The Mozambican government projects to market about 160,000 tons of cashew nuts in the 2021/2022 season, which starts soon.  The figure represents a growth of 12% compared to the previous campaign.

The information was shared in Maputo, by the vice-minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Olegário Banze, during the almond session.

The governor said that in recent years the almond sector, particularly cashew, has been registering quite remarkable growth levels. The average production reaches about 140 thousand tons per season. "This may represent a growth of 12% in relation to the last campaign where we commercialized 145 thousand tons," he explained.

Banze, further explained that the cashew industry is registering a potential capacity of about 11º thousand tons that is not being fully exploited.

He said that "the reasons are various and added to these are the Covid-19 issue, terrorism, and climate change that has buffeted the country, and these are the issues that always disrupt the good performance of the cashew industry."

According to the governor, the country is a world reference in cashew production and processing, has favorable agricultural conditions to improve production in the regional and global context of almonds.

"This subsector has a potential to generate jobs, improve income and the living conditions of citizens, especially in rural areas. And to optimize this potential and the comparative advantages that our country has, we all have to feel properly remunerated and with equity," he said.

The objective of the 1st Session of the Cashew Kernel Committee was to establish acceptable and fair prices for producers, traders, processors and exporters. As well as to establish a price negotiation criterion between the producer and the buyer to improve the functioning of the domestic cashew nut market.