The African Cashew Alliance (ACA) is intensifying efforts to unlock the full economic potential of the cashew industry by equipping actors with practical skills in production, processing, value addition and marketing, as the continent seeks to boost competitiveness, create jobs and increase farmers’ incomes.
ACA is strengthening expertise across the cashew value chain from policy, production and processing to marketing through a blend of theoretical and hands-on training targeting key players in the sector.
ACA, in partnership with the Market Oriented Value Chains for Jobs and Growth in the ECOWAS Region (MOVE) and the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, with funding from the European Union (EU) and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), conducted a week-long second session of the 21st edition of the Master Training Programme (MTP) for Cashew Value Chain Promotion in Africa.
The programme follows the first session held in Tanzania in June. During the Mombasa training, 81 participants from Burundi, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania underwent intensive training on Good Agricultural Management Practices (GAMP), sustainable cashew processing, gender-responsive approaches and leadership in the cashew sector.
Participants also received practical instruction on harvesting and post-harvest handling, nut quality measurement, cashew apple juice processing, by-products and the economics of processing.
The MTP is a long-running capacity-building initiative designed to develop both established and emerging professionals in the cashew industry, creating a pool of experts capable of driving the sector’s growth and competitiveness across Africa.
Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Director General Calistus Kundu said the training had equipped participants with practical knowledge and skills that would strengthen efforts to develop Africa’s cashew industry.
“The knowledge acquired should not end here. We have a responsibility to transfer these skills to farmers, processors, extension officers, investors, as well as other value chain actors. By applying what you have learned, we can contribute to increased productivity, improved quality, enhanced value addition, greater market competitiveness and improved income for our farmers,” said Kundu.
He noted that Kenya has enormous potential to revive and expand its cashew industry, recalling that the crop was once referred to as “white gold” because of the wealth it generated for farmers.
“Through partnerships among government institutions, county governments, the private sector, development partners and research organisations, we can build a vibrant and sustainable cashew value chain that creates employment, supports food and nutritional security, and contributes to economic growth,” he said.
ACA Managing Director Ernest Mintah said the MTP has remained committed to developing a strong pool of skilled, confident and dedicated professionals capable of driving sustainable growth across Africa’s cashew value chain since its inception in 2013.
“Over the years, the programme has evolved, expanding its reach and adapting to the changing needs of the industry. Following the successful implementation of the MTP in East Africa last year, which produced 54 new cashew experts, we are proud that this edition marks the second time the programme has been fully implemented in the region,” he said.
Mintah commended participants for their commitment to enhancing their expertise, noting that building local capacity is essential for transforming the cashew industry in producing countries across Africa.
EAC Secretariat Principal Economist for Investment and Private Sector Promotion Charles Omusana said the programme had equipped participants with the knowledge, skills and mindset required to drive sustainable growth and enhance the competitiveness of Africa’s cashew industry.
“The Cashew MTP develops not only technical experts but also leaders who can inspire change, forge partnerships and contribute meaningfully to the transformation of the industry,” he said.
Omusana added that EAC ministers had identified cashew as one of the region’s priority value chains because of its immense potential to generate foreign exchange, improve household incomes, create employment opportunities, enhance food security and stimulate rural industrialisation.
“One thing that we are looking at is strengthening regional value chains, increasing intra-EAC trade and earning more foreign exchange,” he said, urging African countries to move beyond exporting raw cashew nuts and instead invest in competitive processing industries that produce high-value products for regional and international markets.
He reiterated that value addition remains the key to ensuring farmers, processors and national economies realise the full economic benefits of the crop.
Lydiah Mwenga, Deputy Director of Industries at the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, said Kenya, through the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), Vision 2030 and other national industrialisation policies, remains committed to revitalising and expanding the cashew sector.
Pauline Mutuyimana, one of the actors, said the training began in Mtwara, Tanzania, where they learnt the fundamentals of cashew production before concluding in Mombasa with comprehensive lessons covering the entire cashew value chain.
“The most important lesson we learned is that quality begins on the farm, while greater value comes through processing, value addition and access to better markets,” she said.
By Sadik Hassan
