Title: Value chains and comparative advantage assessment of the Ghanaian cashew sector

Authors: Richard Kwasi Bannor; Steffen Abele; Samuel Kwabena Chaa Kyire; Helena Oppong-Kyeremeh; Emmanuel Mensah

Addresses: Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana ' Ökonomie ländlicher Räume, Hochschule für Forstwirtschaft Rottenburg, Schadenweilerhof, 72108 Rottenburg a.N., Germany ' Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana ' Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana ' Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana

Abstract: The study investigated the value chains and comparative advantage of cashew production and marketing in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. A SWOT analysis of the Ghanaian cashew industry was also carried out and the comparative advantage of the industry estimated, using the domestic resource cost ratio concept. The results of the value chain analysis revealed that farmers earn more on the marketing channel with no retailer/wholesaler. Similarly, the end-users (exporters) also get produce at lower cost. Producer's share in end-users Ghana cedis for a channel involving retailer/wholesaler (Channel III) was 62.3% against 64.3% for channels without retailer/wholesaler (Channels I and II). The result of domestic resource cost ratio (DRCR) was less than unity in both cashew production and trade, indicating a greater comparative advantage for the cashew industry.

Keywords: cashew; comparative advantage; domestic resource cost; DRC; Brong Ahafo.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVCM.2019.100925

International Journal of Value Chain Management, 2019 Vol.10 No.3, pp.196 - 218

Received: 23 Nov 2018
Accepted: 11 Feb 2019
Published online: 19 Jul 2019 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article