In the Tano North District, the rise of cashew farming is transforming rural livelihoods and providing a new economic lifeline as Ghana’s cocoa industry faces declining yields and climate-related challenges.
Mr Yahya Iddrisu, an award-winning farmer from Susuanho, shared that households in his community have increasingly turned to cashew, finding it more resilient to erratic weather and less vulnerable to the pests, diseases, and droughts that have plagued cocoa farms. “Now, there is no household in my village that does not have a cashew farm,” he said, noting that young men are leaving galamsey and urban jobs to return to cashew farming.
Ghana’s cocoa production has fallen sharply, reaching between 650,000 and 700,000 tonnes in 2024, far below historic highs of over one million tonnes. Global cocoa prices also fell nearly 50 percent between late 2025 and early 2026, prompting the government to reduce the farm gate price by 28.6 percent to stabilize COCOBOD finances.
In contrast, cashew has flourished in the transitional zones, offering commercial yields and supporting broader community development. Market activity around cashew farms has intensified, with seasonal workers migrating to collect beans, and buyers increasingly trading directly at the farm gate.
Mr Iddrisu also highlighted the environmental benefits, noting that cashew plantations help reduce bushfires by replacing dry grasslands and can coexist with cocoa under dual-cropping systems. COCOBOD now provides free cocoa seedlings for farmers planting under cashew trees, boosting both production and income potential.
The quiet cashew boom has not only revived economic activity in Susuanho but also restored confidence among farmers, positioning cashew as a dependable crop that is reshaping rural life and offering hope amid challenges in the cocoa sector.
