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Ndanda Member of Parliament, Cecil Mwambe, has called on the Tanzanian government to consider amending legislation to allow cashew farmers to produce a local alcoholic beverage known as gongo using cashew by-products.
Speaking in Parliament in Dodoma, Mwambe argued that enabling the production of gongo could add value to the cashew crop and provide farmers with additional income opportunities.
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In response, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, David Silinde, clarified that the production and sale of traditional alcoholic beverages are governed by the Intoxication Liquors Act, which sets out the legal framework for regulating such activities. Under the current law, anyone intending to manufacture or sell traditional alcoholic drinks must apply for a license through the relevant local government authority.
Silinde further explained that according to Section 3 of the Act, gongo is not recognized as a traditional or local alcoholic beverage, meaning its production and sale remain illegal under the current legal definition.
The issue raises broader questions about potential reforms in agricultural value addition and local enterprise, as communities across Tanzania continue to explore new ways of benefiting economically from their crops.
