Cashewnut farmers earn Sh454 billion as trading season draws to a close

Mtwara. Cashew nut farmers have so far earned Sh454 billion from the crop this year as the marketing season approaches its end.

Basically, the cashew nut marketing season closes towards the end of April, when authorities announce official data on actual harvests and the money earned.

But with almost two weeks before the closure, data gathered by The Citizen shows that so far, over 229,544 tonnes of cashew nuts have been shipped through the port of Mtwara, out of a total of 244,680 tonnes worth Sh454 billion harvested in the country.

Presenting a report on the cashew nut season at the Mtwara Corridor Development Stakeholders Meeting organised by the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), the Acting Director of Marketing and Quality Control at the Tanzania Cashewnut Board (CBT), Revelian Ngaiza, stated that more than 144,018 tonnes were produced within the Mtwara region alone.

He mentioned that more than 55 auctions of raw cashew nuts were held in the country through cooperative unions, where over 244,680 tonnes of raw cashew nuts were collected and sold, with 144,018 tonnes being produced within the Mtwara region. He emphasised the importance of utilising this port for transporting this commodity.

"We began shipping through two ports, Mtwara for the Lindi and Ruvuma regions, but other regions utilised the Dar es Salaam port. A total of 229,544 tonnes were shipped through the port of Mtwara," said Ngaiza.

Speaking on behalf of the permanent secretary in the ministry of Transport, the director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Devotha Gabriel, emphasised the need for collective efforts to ensure that the Mtwara Corridor becomes a hub for sustainable development and the well-being of citizens and neighbouring countries such as Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique.

"We are aware that the Mtwara Corridor presents significant economic opportunities not only for the Mtwara Region but for the entire nation of Tanzania,” she noted.

She added that this corridor is a major gateway for trade and investment, and if developed properly, it can bring about significant changes in our economy and improve the lives of our citizens," Gabriel said.