Sunyani, Sept. 8, GNA – The German Development Cooperation/Competitive Cashew initiative (GIZ/ComCashew) has commenced the second session of the eleventh edition of the Master Training Programme (MTP) for Africa Cashew Value Chain Promotion (ACVC) in Sunyani.
Organised in partnership with the African Cashew Alliance (ACA) with support from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the Cocoa Research Institute Ghana (CRIG), it provided a platform for 60 cashew experts from the country to share knowledge, discuss best practices and lessons learnt and to build networks for future collaboration.
A media release signed and issued by Mr Jeffrey Walters Okusu, Communications Officer of GIZ/ComCashew and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani, said the five-day programme “seeks to increase theoretical knowledge and practical skills of African cashew experts along the value chain and to promote the competitiveness of African cashew.”
It is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
“Participants will return to their host institutions and have a multiplier effect on the cashew industry by sharing their knowledge and experiences gained from attending this tailor-made training,” the release said.
It indicated that during knowledge sharing sessions of theories and their application, participants learnt about all aspects of the cashew value chain, ranging from production and processing of raw cashew nuts to economics, cashew market dynamics, marketing and financing mechanisms.
Facilitators and technical experts taught, evaluated and re-designed each training session according to participants’ needs, the release added.
It stated the previous session covered the cashew value chain concept, the dynamics of the cashew market and the development of training materials whilst “this second session focuses on the development of improved planting material and Good Agricultural Practices”.
The release said “the highlight of this session will be a visit to the Wenchi Agricultural Research Station”, adding that “all sessions cover cross-cutting issues such as gender, policy development, sector regulations and nutritional value of cashew products”.
This edition of the MTP is divided into three successive sessions being held within two months in Ghana but in-between these sessions, referred to as “inter-sessions”, participants would return to their host institutions to conduct field work, either individually or in groups, to deepen their knowledge on selected topics, it said.
After completion of the programme, the participants become certified and acknowledged cashew experts, who train farmers, aid processors and also offer advisory services to institutions in their respective regions, the release added.
GNA