The Tree Crop Development Bill will be put before Parliament in May this year, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced on Monday.

The Bill seeks to manage and promote the development of the cashew industry.

President Akufo-Addo made this statement when he addressed a town hall meeting at Techiman, the capital of the newly created Bono East Region, as part of his four-day working visit to the Bono, Ahafo and Bono East regions.

President Akufo-Addo explained he had directed the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) which worked on the bill to place it before parliament for its passage.

He said the cashew industry was dear to the heart of the government and reminded that there was no tax on exportation of cashew nuts.

President Akufo-Addo also called on the people to embrace and support the Planting for Food and Jobs (PfFJs) and the One-District-One-Factory (1D1F) programmes, which had the potential to drive and build on the local economy.