- Tanzania units up first Fairtrade-certified cashew nuts processing plant in Mtwara area.
- The nation’s cashew nuts market is poised to succeed in $860.25 million by 2029.
- Cashew nut exports generate $227 million in 2023/2024.
Tanzania’s cashew nuts trade is getting an enormous enhance with the development of the primary Fairtrade plant so as to add worth to the produce inside Mtwara area. The economic park in Mtwara is poised to faucet into the area’s huge manufacturing to spice up the revenue of thousands and thousands of farmers.
In keeping with the Cashew Board of Tanzania (CBT), exports of the crop generated a complete of $227 million within the 2023/2024 season, a big enhance from the $162 million realized throughout 2022/2023 interval.
With the Tanzania cashew nuts market anticipated to succeed in $690.97 million this yr and develop at an annual fee of 4.48 per cent to $860.25 million by 2029, this industrial park comes at an opportune time to enhance progress.
The economic park is been inbuilt Maranje Village, Mtwara Area, the place a number of factories might be arrange with a mixed annual processing capability of 300,000 metric tonnes. “The aim is for Tanzania to export processed cashew nuts by the 2026/2027 interval as an alternative of uncooked cashews,” defined Director of Advertising and marketing and High quality Management on the Cashew Nuts Board of Tanzania (CBT), Mr Revelian Ngaiza.
Despite the fact that cashew nuts are one of many 4 conventional money crops in Tanzania, others being espresso, tea, and cotton, the sector stays underdeveloped. Now, the federal government of Tanzania is trying to enhance uncooked cashew nut manufacturing from 30,000Mt to 700,000Mt by subsequent yr.
Nonetheless, even because the nation strikes to step up output, solely 5 per cent of uncooked cashew nuts are being processed regionally. The opposite 95 per cent is processed in Vietnam or India for worth addition earlier than being despatched out to the ultimate client markets in Europe and America.
“It’s estimated that this (exporting of unprocessed cashew nuts) brought about Tanzania a lack of some 83 million Euroes within the earlier season…and that’s when the choice to arrange this processing industrial park,” the CBT official stated.
As for progress within the building of the commercial park, Tanzania’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, David Silinde, stated, “The actions carried out to date embody clearing the realm, beginning the drilling of water wells and lengthening electrical energy to the realm. As well as, a contractor has been chosen to construct inner gravel roads, two prototype warehouses, and a cashew processing plant.”
The federal government official famous that this initiative (building of the commercial park) aligns with Tanzania’s broader goal of processing all its cashew nut regionally by 2027. With solely three years to go, a lot stays to been seen of this formidable plan since, for the time being, the nation processes lower than 15 per cent of its annual cashew nut output.
Mtwara, and different areas within the Southern area of Tanzania are the primary cashew nut manufacturing. Whereas the area has a number of small-scale cashew nut processors, however sadly, none of them are registered with Fairtrade.
“Being a Fairtrade licensed farmer may be very helpful. Farmers have to know that there’s rising demand of Fairtrade merchandise world wide, individuals at the moment are social, financial and environmental points of crop manufacturing earlier than shopping for,” Ngaiza cautioned.
Learn additionally: Mozambique: The goldmine in cashew nuts farming
Tanzania’s first Fairtrade licensed cashew nut processor
Referred to as Mama Cashew, that is the primary Fairtrade licensed cashew nut processing firm not solely in Tanzania however the complete East African area as nicely. Mama Cashew is the model title of the Netherland’s buying and selling firm Listram Commodities Co. Ltd that works with some 425 farmers and employs over 530 manufacturing facility employees.
“Mama Cashew is satisfied that ethically shopping for and processing is the one method ahead to create a sustainable impression within the cashew nut sector,” notes Maria Verschoof, co-owner of Mama Cashew.
He provides, “With the Fairtrade certification, farmers are assured a minimal value and can obtain a premium for use to enhance their manufacturing capability.”
“The actual game-changer is the by Fairtrade developed Residing Revenue Reference Worth, which defines a ample value to afford an honest lifestyle for all family members,” she added.
The Fairtrade Residing Revenue Reference Worth, is the worth of a product at which a typical farmer’s family (with a viable farm dimension and a sustainable productiveness degree) wants with a purpose to earn a residing revenue from the gross sales of their crop, explains the Honest Commerce community.
When a product is offered on the Residing Revenue Reference Worth, then the farmer is anticipated to afford a nutritious eating regimen, clear water, correct housing, schooling, well being care and have some emergency cash left over. “A sector can by no means be sustainable if the farmers originally of the availability chain aren’t capable of make an honest residing from the gross sales of their crop. That’s why going past the Fairtrade Minimal Worth and Premium, we developed the idea of a Residing Revenue Reference Worth,” the Honest Commerce community says.
In keeping with the community, the Fairtrade Residing Revenue Reference Costs are calculated based mostly on 4 key parameters:
- Prices to assist an honest residing (impartial Residing Revenue benchmarks)
- Sustainable goal yield (stakeholder agreed productiveness benchmark)
- Prices of sustainable manufacturing (funding required to achieve the goal yield)
- Viable land dimension (to completely soak up the accessible family labour)
Tanzania Fairtrade cashew nuts sector growth
Lately, there was a gradual enhance in cashew nut output in Tanzania with the 2023/24 season recording 305,014 metric tonnes, in comparison with 189,114 metric tonnes a season earlier. “This surge is basically because of the authorities’s provision of sponsored agricultural inputs, which noticed the worth of subsidies double to $72M within the 2023/24 season,” the Milling East Africa report states partly.
The Kenyan firm, which focuses on agriculture produce within the area, acknowledges the Tanzanian authorities’s technique to revamp the sector. This consists of by way of enhancing of the supply of high-quality seeds, bettering pest and illness management measures, and increasing extension companies to farmers.
“The institution of the cashew nut industrial park is anticipated to draw extra funding within the processing phase, creating jobs and boosting the native financial system,” notes Milling East Africa.
“The economic park is not going to solely improve the processing capability but in addition create quite a few employment alternatives for the native inhabitants,” Tanzania’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, David Silinde added.
What are the well being advantages of consuming cashew nuts?
Think about biting right into a handful of creamy, crunchy cashew nuts and figuring out that every chunk is doing wonders on your physique. These little powerhouses of diet aren’t simply scrumptious—they’re full of well being advantages that may rework your well-being.
Defending your coronary heart, one cashew at a time
Cashew nuts are like tiny shields on your arteries. Loaded with folate and vitamin E, they work to guard your coronary heart by stopping the build-up of plaque that may result in blocked or narrowed arteries. The truth is, a 2019 research revealed that including cashews to your every day eating regimen might help enhance levels of cholesterol, particularly in these managing kind 2 diabetes.
Residing longer with cashews
Who knew that snacking on cashews may very well be a part of the key to an extended life? Analysis reveals that diets wealthy in unsaturated fat, like these present in cashews, are linked to a decrease danger of dying from all causes. So, while you get pleasure from these nuts, you’re not simply treating your self—you’re investing in your future.
Preventing off oxidative stress
Ever heard of oxidative stress? It’s the sneaky wrongdoer that, over time, can harm your organs, tissues, and even cells, doubtlessly resulting in severe circumstances like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and a number of sclerosis. However don’t fear—cashew nuts have your again. Full of antioxidants like polyphenols and carotenoids, they assist your physique fight oxidative stress and preserve you feeling your finest.
Guarding in opposition to coronary heart illness and stroke
Cashews do extra than simply style good—they assist defend your coronary heart from illness and your mind from strokes. How? By decreasing ranges of homocysteine, an amino acid that, when elevated, can enhance irritation and put you in danger for these severe circumstances. Repeatedly having fun with cashew nuts might help preserve your homocysteine ranges in test, holding your coronary heart and mind wholesome.
Easing the pressure of osteoarthritis
For these battling osteoarthritis, reduction is likely to be nearer than you suppose. A 2020 research discovered that the highly effective mixture of antioxidants and anti inflammatory properties in cashews might help counter the destructive results of this painful situation. So, while you snack on cashews, you’re not simply having fun with a tasty deal with—you’re giving your joints a serving to hand.
Managing colitis with cashews
In case you’re coping with colitis, these creamy cashews is likely to be greater than only a snack. Analysis means that the anti-inflammatory advantages of cashew nuts can play a job in managing this inflammatory bowel situation, providing some much-needed reduction.
Supporting wholesome weight reduction
Making an attempt to handle your weight? Cashews may very well be your new finest buddy. Research point out that diets wealthy in nuts, together with cashews, are related to diminished weight acquire and a decrease danger of weight problems. The mixture of protein, wholesome fat, and fiber in cashews makes them a satisfying snack that may preserve you full and allow you to keep away from unhealthy temptations.
Conserving blood sugar in test
For these managing diabetes, cashews supply a pure method to assist regulate blood sugar. A 2019 research discovered that every day consumption of cashews improved insulin sensitivity, which is essential for wholesome blood sugar administration. Due to their excessive protein and unsaturated fats content material, cashews might help preserve your blood sugar ranges regular.
Decreasing stroke danger with magnesium
Cashews are a improbable supply of magnesium, a mineral that performs a key position in lowering your danger of stroke. Analysis has proven that increased magnesium ranges within the blood are linked to a decrease danger of stroke, so having fun with cashews commonly may very well be a wise transfer on your mind well being.
Supporting your reminiscence
Lastly, cashews would possibly simply be the brain-boosting snack you’ve been searching for. With a dietary profile wealthy in protein, important fat, nutritional vitamins, and minerals, cashews present the vitamins your mind wants to remain sharp and fend off reminiscence loss.
So, the subsequent time you attain for a snack, take into account cashew nuts—as a result of with each chunk, you’re not simply satisfying your style buds, you’re nourishing your physique and thoughts.
