The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has moved to correct what it describes as widespread misinformation about cashew producer pricing, insisting that claims of a GH¢25 per kilogram minimum farmgate price are false and not supported by official figures.
In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, the Authority clarified that the approved minimum producer price for the 2024 cashew season stood at GH¢8.50 per kilogram, while prices for the 2025 season reached a peak of GH¢15.00 per kilogram.
For the 2026 season, TCDA indicated that the calculated minimum producer price was GH¢11.16 per kilogram. However, government, through the Authority, adjusted it upward to GH¢12.00 per kilogram to provide additional income support to farmers.
The Authority explained that cashew pricing is not fixed arbitrarily but is determined through consultations with stakeholders across the value chain. Key benchmarks such as international Free on Board (FOB) prices, foreign exchange movements, and operational costs are taken into account before a final price is announced.
TCDA further stressed that Ghana’s cashew farmgate prices remain comparatively competitive within the sub-region, noting that neighbouring countries currently offer lower rates, generally ranging between about GH¢7.15 and GH¢8.00 per kilogram depending on the market.
It added that countries such as Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Togo all record producer prices below Ghana’s current levels, reinforcing what it describes as Ghana’s relatively stronger pricing framework for farmers.
Established under the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019 (Act 1010), the TCDA is mandated to regulate and develop key tree crops including cashew, coconut, oil palm, rubber, mango and shea.
The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to improving farmer livelihoods through value addition initiatives, particularly cashew apple processing, as part of broader efforts under the Agriculture for Economic Transformation agenda.
It also urged journalists, bloggers, and the public to verify agricultural pricing information from official sources before publication, warning that inaccurate reports risk distorting market confidence and undermining the interests of farmers.
TCDA said it remains committed to ensuring transparency in cashew pricing and maintaining stability across the sector.
