info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
Image from The Citizen
The cashew industry in Mozambique is one of the largest cashew industry in the world and is promoting healthy economic development.
The country's cashew nut industry, one of the world's biggest, was dealt a body blow first by the 1977-1992 civil war and then by a controversial World Bank assistance package.
Now, the government is looking to help the curved, nutrient-packed nut to recover its past glory.
Since 2010, cashew consumption has surged in Europe, where the nuts have gained in popularity primarily because of their health benefits.
Almost three million tonnes are harvested worldwide every year with Ivory Coast's crop leading the way with an annual production of 725,000 tonnes, followed by India and Vietnam.
With output of just 140,000 tonnes every year, Mozambique lags behind the top three producers but is closing the gap — and has big ambitions.
"The productivity of the cashew trees is increasing and our plans are, in the near future, to reach the historic level of 200,000 tonnes of nuts a year," said Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosario.
