The Ghana Wildlife Society (GWS), together with women champions and conservation partners from Côte d’Ivoire, has visited Bunyanso Farms Limited in the West Gonja Municipal of the Savannah Region to explore opportunities in cashew value addition, sustainable agriculture and conservation.
The visit formed part of the Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire Women Champions Exchange Visit under the AfricElle Project, sponsored by NABU. The initiative provides a platform for women from both countries to share experiences, learn from successful livelihood initiatives and identify practical approaches to strengthening women’s participation in climate-resilient livelihoods, sustainable agriculture and conservation.
The delegation toured Bunyanso’s cashew plantation and the Bunyanso Cashew Apple & Kernel Processing Centre, where participants received practical insights into cashew production, processing, value addition and the integration of agriculture with conservation and tourism.
The Côte d’Ivoire delegation was led by Ms. Diabaté Maboridjon, representing SOS Forêts, the BirdLife International partner in Côte d’Ivoire, while the Ghana Wildlife Society team was led by its Executive Director, Dr. Sandra Owusu-Gyamfi.
Speaking during the engagement, Mr. Iddrisu Sumani (Azambuja), Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bunyanso Farms Limited, said the visit demonstrated how agricultural development, women’s livelihoods and environmental conservation could be pursued together.
He said sustainable cashew production, agroforestry, responsible land management and value addition could improve farmer livelihoods, create jobs and contribute to environmental sustainability.
Mr. Sumani, who is also Founder and Executive Director of NORGIID-GHANA, President of the West Gonja District Co-operative Cashew Farmers & Marketing Union Ltd. and a Farmers’ Representative on the Cashew Council of Ghana, expressed appreciation to the GWS and the Côte d’Ivoire delegation for visiting the farm.
He reaffirmed Bunyanso Farms’ commitment to working with government institutions, farmer organisations, conservation groups, private-sector actors and development partners to promote sustainable agriculture and expand opportunities for value addition.
The farm’s Chief Operations Officer, Mr. Abdulai Askanda, provided technical guidance during the field visit.
He explained that the Bunyanso model goes beyond conventional cashew production by integrating agroforestry, beekeeping, api-tourism, agri-tourism, eco-tourism and agro-industrial development.
According to him, the integrated model creates additional income opportunities, promotes biodiversity, encourages sustainable land management and provides opportunities for agricultural education and investment.
A major focus of the visit was the role of women in processing and value addition.
The women champions explored opportunities in cashew apple and kernel processing, packaging, marketing and entrepreneurship, highlighting the potential for women to move beyond primary production and participate more actively in higher-value segments of the agricultural chain.
Madam Zubaidatu A. Amidu, Municipal Officer for Women in Agriculture Development (WIAD) at the Department of Agriculture, West Gonja Municipal, called for greater participation of women in the cashew value chain.
She identified processing, value addition, agribusiness, entrepreneurship, skills development, access to finance and markets as key areas where women could benefit.
Madam Zubaida also stressed the need to create more opportunities for women and young people to participate in agricultural and agro-processing enterprises.
Mr. Abdulai Abdul Mumin, General Manager of the Ghana Co-operative Cashew Farmers and Marketing Association Ghana Ltd., Board Member of the Cashew Council of Ghana and Board Member of the Tree Crops Development Authority representing cashew farmers across Ghana, emphasised the importance of strong farmer organisations and effective market linkages.
He called for closer collaboration among farmers, government agencies, processors, private-sector actors and development partners to improve productivity, market access and farmer incomes.
Mr. Abdul Mumin also highlighted the importance of Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire knowledge sharing in areas including improved production practices, farmer organisation, cooperative development, processing and value addition.
The Head of Extension Services at the Department of Agriculture, West Gonja Municipal, Mr. Francis Opong, stressed the importance of effective agricultural extension services in improving cashew production and productivity.
He said continuous farmer education and the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices were essential to improving yields, maintaining healthy plantations and ensuring sustainable production.
Mr. Opong welcomed the exchange with the Côte d’Ivoire delegation, saying experiences from both countries could help strengthen extension delivery and build the capacity of cashew farmers.
One of the key lessons from the Bunyanso Farms visit was the potential for sustainable agriculture to be combined with conservation and tourism.
Through its integrated model, Bunyanso Farms combines cashew farming, agroforestry, beekeeping, api-tourism, agri-tourism and eco-tourism, alongside a broader vision for agro-industrial development.
Stakeholders said such an approach could diversify community livelihoods while promoting environmental protection and sustainable land management.
For the women champions, the experience provided a practical example of how community-based enterprises could diversify incomes and create employment opportunities for women and young people.
The engagement further strengthened the Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire knowledge sharing component of the AfricElle Project, which seeks to promote learning, networking and collaboration among women involved in community development, livelihoods and conservation.
The participation of the Côte d’Ivoire women champions enabled participants from both countries to compare experiences, identify common challenges and explore solutions that could be adapted to their respective communities.
The visit also demonstrated how private-sector initiatives can complement community-level conservation and livelihood programmes through value addition, entrepreneurship, sustainable agriculture and integrated land-use practices.
Participants expressed a shared commitment to applying lessons from the exchange in their respective communities and strengthening women-led initiatives that contribute to livelihood improvement, environmental conservation, climate resilience and local economic development.
The Bunyanso Farms visit therefore provided more than a practical lesson in cashew production and processing. It showcased how integrated agriculture, value addition, conservation and tourism can work together to create sustainable economic opportunities for women and communities.
Source: Padfm.com.gh/Kumatey Gorden/0243531604
