The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is carrying out a public hearing on the review of the cashew law, with a view to adjusting the current market reality and ensuring higher yields in production, processing, commercialization, as well as capitalizing financial resources.

The director of the National Service for Studies, Planning and Cooperation, at the National Almond Institute in Mozambique (IAM), Santos Frijon, who was speaking a few days ago in the city of Maxixe, Inhambane province, said that the consultation is taking place on a national scale and the next step will be the systematization of the contributions collected for later submission to the Council of Ministers.

Santos Frijon made it known that the revision arises from the need to review and consolidate the legal regime of the almond subsector, through its adequacy to the current market demands, to stimulate competitiveness among the actors of the value chain, and to guarantee the necessary security and tranquility for investments.

According to Santos Frijon, after the appreciation by the Council of Ministers, the proposal will be sent to the Parliament for debate and possible approval of the new cashew law.

Among several aspects, the cashew law proposal has as its principles competitiveness, efficiency and effectiveness, sustainability, equity, interdependence and interconnection, economy, transparency and accountability, scientificity, safety, traceability, and integral use, aiming to achieve greater integration of cashew products and by-products, adding value and generating employment and wealth.

The new proposal also foresees that, in addition to nationals, cashew nuts can be exported by foreign industrialists, as long as the raw material for the national industry is guaranteed.

The director of the District Service of Economic Activities in Mabote, Judite Pacale, one of the participants in the event, understands that this revision will improve several aspects contained in the current cashew law in force for over 22 years.

"This revision will improve the impact of production on the lives of communities as well as for producers, processors and traders by strengthening the value chain and ensuring the financial sustainability of stakeholders," he said.

The source also said that the revision of the cashew law will help the domestic industries to employ more labor and that in places with the largest production there will be processed products available in the market for sale and export.