<p></p><p>The largest cashew processor in the Brong-Ahafo Region, KONA Agro Processing Limited, has been forced to shut down operations due to financial difficulties. <br></p> <p>The company, which employed 250 workers, many of whom were, used to process about 1,500 metric tons of raw cashew annually for export. <br></p> <p>The company's Director, Mr. Kwabena Taylor, said his outfit needed US$1.5 million to get back into business. <br></p> <p>He announced this when the Trade and Industry Minister, Dr. Ekow Spio-Garbrah toured the plant at Awisa in the Wenchi Municipality as part of his three-day working visit to the region.</p> <p>Mr. Taylor said several attempts to access credit from the Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund (EDAIF) - to provide it with financial lifeline, had been unsuccessful. <br></p> <p>They were therefore, left was no option but to close down and send the workers home, he added. <br></p> <p>The Minister suggested to the management of the company to go into equity partnership to raise funds to revive its operations. <br></p> <p>Dr. Spio-Garbrah earlier interacted with cashew growers and buyers and said the government was putting in place interventions to grow the cashew industry and boost returns. <br></p> <p>He told them that the temporary ban on export of the raw commodity was meant to create a favorable market for growers and hinted of fixing a standardized local price for it. <br></p> <p>The Minister revealed that he had been into the cashew business for about 17 years and encouraged the youth to take to cashew farming because it was rewarding. <br></p> <p>He separately inspected small scale businesses being supported by the Rural Enterprises Project (REP) of his ministry.<br></p><p></p>