Joseph Isangura
The Tanzanian government has ramped up efforts to support small-scale cashew nut processors, a move aimed at boosting local value addition, improving livelihoods, and strengthening the country’s position in the global agricultural exports market.
This nationwide initiative seeks to address longstanding challenges in the cashew sector—particularly among small processors—by improving access to reliable markets, expanding investment in processing industries, and offering targeted training programs to enhance product quality and competitiveness.
Officials say the government is determined to reduce reliance on exporting raw cashew nuts by empowering local processors with the tools and knowledge necessary to engage in efficient value-added processing.
“Tanzania has the potential to be a global leader in processed cashew exports,” said a senior official at the Ministry of Agriculture. “Our job is to ensure that even small-scale processors can compete on a level playing field.”
Tanzania is among Africa’s top cashew-producing countries, with the southern regions of Mtwara, Lindi, and Ruvuma forming the backbone of the sector. However, for decades, much of the country’s harvest was exported raw to India and Vietnam, where it was processed and sold at higher prices—limiting the potential income for Tanzanian farmers and entrepreneurs.
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To change that narrative, the government is providing training on shelling techniques, quality control, packaging standards, and business management. These efforts are also part of the broader Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP), which seeks to modernize farming and promote agro-industrialization across the country.
In addition to training, the government is linking local cashew processors with buyers through trade fairs, digital marketplaces, and public-private partnerships. New and rehabilitated processing facilities are also being constructed closer to production zones to cut logistics costs and increase output.
“By decentralizing infrastructure and investing in education, we’re building a cashew economy that works for everyone—from the farmer to the factory,” said an agricultural economist based in Dodoma.
Over 300,000 Tanzanians are engaged in cashew farming or small-scale processing, and the crop remains one of the country’s most valuable non-traditional exports. Experts believe that with continued investment and smart policy implementation, the cashew industry could become a blueprint for rural transformation.
