Ghana has set a minimum producer price of GH¢12 per kilogram (approximately $1.09) for raw cashew nuts for the 2025/2026 crop season, as the government seeks to improve farmer returns while encouraging greater value addition across the cashew industry.
The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) approved the price following consultations with farmers, aggregators, traders, exporters and processors. The pricing formula considered a Free on Board (FOB) benchmark of US$1,400 per metric tonne, a six-month average exchange rate of GH¢11.0241 to the dollar, as well as statutory and operational costs. The resulting indicative price was GH¢11.157 per kilogram before stakeholders agreed on the GH¢12 minimum.
The approved price applies to raw cashew nuts meeting specified quality standards, including a kernel outturn ratio of 46, nut count of 190, and maximum moisture content of 10%. The TCDA said the price may be reviewed as global market conditions, exchange rates and other factors change.
Alongside the pricing policy, Ghana is pushing for greater commercial use of the cashew apple, the fleshy fruit attached to the nut that is often left to waste after harvesting. TCDA Chief Executive Dr Andy Osei Okrah has identified opportunities to process cashew apples into juice, wine, jam, ethanol, animal feed and other industrial products.
Ghana produced approximately 260,000 metric tonnes of cashew in 2025, with output projected to reach about 280,000 tonnes in 2026. Bono, Bono East and Ahafo account for more than 75% of national production, while more than 200,000 farmers are directly involved in the sector.
The push for apple processing forms part of a broader effort to move Ghana's cashew industry beyond raw nut production and capture more value through domestic processing.
NBF Insight
Ghana's cashew opportunity is no longer simply about producing more nuts, but about capturing value from the entire fruit. A stronger minimum price can improve income predictability for farmers, while processing the cashew apple could create additional revenue streams, jobs, and export opportunities.
