The Council of Ministers (Cabinet) adopted the plan which details ways to increase the production and processing of cashew nuts.
According to the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Antonio Limbau, the government hopes that within the next decade the country will see the processing of 100,000 tonnes of cashew per year. Currently only 30,000 tonnes of cashew is processed annually.
Limbau told journalists after the Cabinet meeting that cashew production could increase to 182,000 tonnes. In 2011 Mozambique produced only 112,000 tonnes.
“This plan follows on from the first master plan for cashew and is part of the operational programme of the Strategic Plan for the Development of the Agricultural Sector”, stressed Limbau.
The Deputy Minister explained that the first master plan resulted in an increase in the number of trees sprayed against fungus infestations, research into new varieties and an increase in processing capacity.
“We currently process 30,000 tonnes of cashew nuts, so we are still the largest processor in Africa”, stated the Deputy Minister.
Under the new plan Mozambique will plant 4.6 million seedlings over the next ten years. The number of trees sprayed will increase to 5 million to increase the average yield to 12 kilogrammes per tree.
He concluded, “through this plan we want to revitalise the cashew industry and increase its contribution to exports”.
Post published in: Africa News