Tanzanian government plans to triple cashew nuts production to 1 million tons over the next four to five years as against a production estimated at 290,000 tons now.
Announcing this recently Minister of Agriculture Japhet Hasunga said that the government is taking several steps to encourage cultivation in more acreages in various provinces. It is also taking concrete steps for ensuring transparency in the trade so that the farmer and exchequer benefit. The reason behind these steps is to create an ecosystem in the country to emerge as the largest exporter of cashew nuts in the world and also a processing center.
The International Nut and Dried Fruit Council estimates that the cashew nuts’ global output was 3.3 million tons in 2019. More than half came from Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau. India, Vietnam and Tanzania also contributed substantially to the nut production.
In November 2018, the Tanzanian government was the sole buyer of cashew nuts produced by local farmers to ensure a decent price to them. Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa announced in November 2019, that the government released the final US$ 17 million, which it owed to cashew nuts farmers for the previous season.
Tanzania produces premium quality cashew nuts aided by conducive climate and better agricultural practices. The nuts produced in Tanzania command higher prices in the international market. The flip side is that most of the nuts produced are exported in the raw form without shelling, mainly to India, where it is shelled and processed. Of late, the country is looking for investors in cashew nut processing. Recently a study was undertaken, which identified investment opportunities in cashew nut growing and processing in the country, as part of fulfilling this mission to emerge as the world’s largest producer cum processor of cashew nut to beef up its income from exports.
