Inhambane province produced and commercialized more than 10 thousand tons of cashew nuts this year, out of the little more than 19 thousand planned for the 2021/2022 season.

This quantity represents a reduction of four thousand tons compared to the same period of the 2020/2021 campaign, in which more than 14 thousand tons were produced and sold.

The delegation of the Almond Institute in Inhambane made it known at the tenth ordinary session of the Council of Provincial Services of State Representation (CSPRE) in Inhambane, that as a result of this reduction the expected revenue levels also fell, standing at 470 million meticais, against expectations of just over 830 million meticais.

According to the spokesperson for the body, Elvira Chirindza, cited by the newspaper Notícias, the nuts were sold at an average price of 45 meticais per kilogram. She pointed out as reasons for the low productivity the lack of rain in the flowering period and excess in the maturation period.

Covid-19 also contributed to the low production of this crop, especially given the difficulties in importing the chemicals to treat the cashew trees. According to the spokesperson, most of the nuts sold went to the informal market, about 79 percent, 12 percent to industry, and five percent for export.

Exports are expected to reach 600 tons, all of it destined for Vietnam. Internal processing in the province is guaranteed by four small units in the districts of Maxixe, Panda, Homoíne, and Funhalouro.

In addition to processing, the factories add value to the nuts with additives such as salt, chili, and sesame.

Chirindza said that for the 2022/2023 season, the CSPRE expects to produce and sell more than 21,000 tons of cashew nuts, which will represent a growth of 8.2 percent. To achieve these yields, the province will sensitize producers to increasingly adhere to good integrated cashew management practices.