By Ibrahim Sesay
A national dialogue was convened by Woord en Daad, a Dutch-based NGO, in collaboration with Solidaridad, Jula Consultancy, Cocoa Source and Akuna Cocoa, on April 8, 2024, at the Sierra Palms Hotel in Freetown, bringing together key stakeholders to address the challenges facing Sierra Leone’s cashew sector. The one-day event, held under the Trust Cashew Project, was attended by Government officials, farmers, local processors, exporters, civil society organizations and the donor community to discuss strategies for empowering farmers, strengthening cooperatives and expanding market access.
The central aim of the project, as explained by Jacobus Verheul, the Project Manager, is to create critical links between farmers and both local and global markets. Jacobus Verheul highlighted the significant obstacles farmers face in selling their products and outlined the initiative’s goal of improving their livelihoods by providing them with better income opportunities. “What we aim to achieve with this project is to improve the livelihoods of farmers, boost their productivity and empower them to sell their products in the market,” Jacobus Verheul remarked. He shared that the initiative is currently working with 1,500 farmers organized into two cooperatives, one in Karene and the other in Kambia, both of which are part of the ongoing effort to ensure that farmers can independently reach larger markets.
Jacobus Verheul also expressed his satisfaction with the farmers’ commitment to the project, noting their enthusiasm and willingness to collaborate. “From the outset, the cooperatives have shown a positive energy and a strong desire to work together,” he said, reaffirming Woord en Daad’s dedication to strengthening the cashew sector in Sierra Leone.
Andrew Kojo Morison, the Country Representative for Solidaridad, further elaborated on the consortium’s work to reorganize the cashew value chain. He emphasized that the goal is to reshape how farmers engage with the market, focusing on enhancing farm-level productivity and building strong, market-ready cooperatives that can negotiate better prices. “We are looking to reorganize the cashew sector by helping communities form cooperatives that are capable of engaging directly with the market,” Andrew Kojo Morison explained. He also underscored the importance of dialogues like the one held at Sierra Palms, saying such forums stimulate discussions on sector challenges and generate solutions tailored to local needs. “Dialogues like this are essential for understanding the sector’s issues and finding homegrown solutions that will move the industry forward,” he added.
Ambrose Bindi, Head of Tree Crops at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, spoke on the multifaceted benefits of cashew production. He explained that cashew farming not only generates foreign exchange, citing that many local cashew agents are now paid in euros and U.S. dollars, but also creates jobs for local farmers and offers significant nutritional and medicinal value. However, Ambrose Bindi also raised concerns over the growing threat of wildfires to cashew farms. He called on the Government to implement stricter laws to punish those responsible for setting fires, referencing the severe damage caused by wildfires in regions like Port Loko, Makeni and Tonkolili. He further appealed for subsidies for cashew farmers, similar to those given to cocoa and coffee producers, suggesting that such measures could boost cashew production across the country.
One of the most powerful testimonies came from Haja Marie Bob Kandeh, a cashew farmer with more than seven years of experience, who shared the difficulties faced by farmers due to wildfires. Haja Marie Bob Kandeh described how a wildfire destroyed her 40-acre farm in December 2023, yet the perpetrators had not been apprehended. She advocated for stronger legal protections and a comprehensive national plan to support the cashew sector. “There is no law in place to hold those responsible for these destructive fires,” she said. “A national plan is urgently needed to help cashew farmers recover and thrive.” Haja Marie Bob Kandeh acknowledged that while the Ministry of Agriculture has focused heavily on rice production, cashew farming deserves more attention as part of a broader strategy for agricultural diversification.
In closing, Andrew Kojo Morison reiterated the importance of a collective effort from all stakeholders, Government, donors, civil society and farmers, in ensuring the success of the cashew sector. “There is immense potential in this sector, and it is essential that we all double our efforts to unlock it,” he concluded. The dialogue left participants with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to building a sustainable and thriving cashew industry in Sierra Leone.
