Though Ghana is a late developer of the cashew crop, prospects for increased production and processing for both local consumption and export were very bright. The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sectors Development and Presidential Special Initiative, Kwadwo Affram Asiedu said this was evidenced by the fact that current production levels were a sell-out coupled with attractive prices prevailing on the world market. Speaking at the opening of the National Cashew Week Celebration in Accra on the theme: "Cashing in on Cashew", he noted that world demand on cashew was estimated at 200,000 metric tonnes and it was projected to grow at five to eight percent annually for the next five years at 20 billion dollars per annum. The celebration is to among other things, create awareness on cashew, equip and provide a platform for sharing information and experiences on best practices in processing, marketing, logistics and quality standards. In 2005, Ghana exported 41,000 metric tonnes of cashew, out of which 10,000 was harvested in the country, earning 30 million dollars. The Deputy Minister said government had developed sufficient and competitive production capacity in order to take advantage of market access opportunities. He said government had compiled a land bank directory in the country to help reduce frustrations and delays which investors go through in their attempts in assessing land for productive ventures. The ministry, he said, "would therefore urge the association in its collective effort, to take advantage of the opportunities offered by government to identify suitable land for large scale cultivation of the crop." The Minister of Agriculture, Ernest Debrah, stated that to hasten the growth of cashew, the ministry through the Cashew Development Project had placed some strategies that would enhance extension delivery to farmers and processors. This he explained, had been in the form of provision of improved planting materials, the development and distribution of bulletins on improved crop and husbandry technologies to assist farmers improve on yields and quality nuts, credit schemes and well structured programmes for capacity building of key players in the industry. Giving statistics on the areas of cultivation, he mentioned that Ghana had expanded from 35,5447 hectares in 2003 to 58,942 in 2006, while production of raw cashew had increased from 7,212 metric tonnes in 2003 to 16,422 in 2006. "Unfortunately, about one percent is utilised locally," he said. The ministry, he said, was not only lending its support to the development of wealth creation and poverty alleviation but also committed to all activities aimed at improving the nutritional well-being of the populace. The minister tasked participant to come out with clear-cut recommendations for the formulation of policy guidelines to move the industry forward. Mr William Ayettey, member of the Cashew Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana (CAPEAG) said members were concerned with the low production levels in the country and appealed to government to extend support to areas beyond the Cashew Development Project districts to help bridge the gap between production and export. He also called for the building of a supply base for medium to large-scale cashew processing which was the surest way in realising maximum benefit from production. The cashew tree is said to purify the environment by reducing the carbon concentration. It contains 21 percent of vegetable protein, which is comparable to Soya beans, groundnuts, beef, and chicken. The kennels also have a higher percentage of unsaturated fatty acids while the cashew apple on the other hand was also a very rich source of vitamin C, calcium and iron. Source: GNA