As reported in the baseline survey study undertaken by the BAAT Project in 2019, the cashew business is a pivotal contributor to job creation in the targeted districts. The baseline study estimated that cashew production and its related activities employed about 3,860 persons in the year before the survey. During the project’s life of activity (LoA), the action supported 14,966 (103.2%) direct cashew value chain actors in the targeted districts with various interventions and training to create job opportunities. This performance represents a 3.2% over-achievement compared to the final project target. The number reached comprised 5,911 (39.5%) females and 9,055 (60.5%) males. As indicated in Table 1, the actors included: 3,392 existing cashew farmers; 5,935 new cashew farmers; 105 new medium-large scale cashew farmers; 34 agro-input dealers; 30 cashew buyers or aggregators; nine (9) carpenters; 21 honey traders; 5,247 cashew nut collectors; 21 entrepreneurs; 162 farm service gangs; and ten (10) nursery operators. The business service units have created employment for 183 youth comprising 21 entrepreneurs and 162 farm service gangs) out of a project target of 220.
| Value Chain Actors | Target | Actual | |||||||
| 2,019 | 2,020 | 2,021 | Final Target | 2,019 | 2,020 | 2,021 | Current Value (Total) | Current Value (%) | |
| Existing Cashew Farmers | 2,000 | 1,000 | – | 3,000 | 2,042 | 1,350 | – | 3,392 | 113.1% |
| New Cashew Farmers | 2,000 | 3,100 | – | 5,100 | 2,632 | 3,303 | – | 5,935 | 116.4% |
| New Medium-Large Scale Cashew Farmers | 50 | 50 | – | 100 | 81 | 24 | – | 105 | 105.0% |
| Agro-input Dealers | – | 20 | – | 20 | 17 | 17 | – | 34 | 170.0% |
| Cashew Buyers and Aggregators | – | 30 | – | 30 | – | 30 | – | 30 | 100.0% |
| Carpenters | 9 | 1 | – | 10 | 7 | 2 | – | 9 | 90.0% |
| Honey Traders | – | 10 | – | 10 | – | 21 | – | 21 | 210.0% |
| Cashew Nut Collectors | 4,000 | 2,000 | – | 6,000 | 2,812 | 2,435 | – | 5,247 | 87.5% |
| Business Service Units (Targeted 22 Entrepreneurs and 198 Farm Service Gangs) | 110 | 110 | – | 220 | 110 | 73 | – | 183 | 83.2% |
| Nursery Operators | 10 | – | – | 10 | 10 | – | – | 10 | 100.0% |
| Total | 8,179 | 6,321 | – | 14,500 | 7,711 | 7,255 | – | 14,966 | 103.2% |
Source: Final Narrative report of the Bono-Asante Atea (BAAT) Project
Date: April 29, 2022
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