MTWARA: CASHEW growers in the country have so far earned a substantial 1.62tri/- after selling their raw cashew nuts (RCN) in the ongoing 2024/2025 trading season.
The Cashewnut Board of Tanzania (CBT) Director General, Mr Alfred Francis, told reporters on Wednesday that the impressive earnings were achieved through the sale of 320,476 tonnes of raw cashew nuts (RCN) since the auctions commenced on October 11 this year.
“Some 320,476 tonnes of cashews have been sold since the start of cashew trading season,” he said noting that the production has increased compared to previous years.
“This season production of cashew nuts has reached a historic high, earning farmers a whopping cash prize in just six weeks.” Mr Francis called on farmers to continue delivering their cashews to designated warehouses for sale as auctions proceed in cashewgrowing regions.
However, he noted that prices have slightly dropped due to lower global demand for RCN. At the start of the season, prices ranged between 4,000/- and 3,000/- per kilogramme but have since decreased to 2,900/-.
According to CBT, the number of buyers bidding are decreasing as the majority have bought enough stocks at the beginning of the season.
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Meanwhile, Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) in Mtwara Region said that the authority is committed to ensuring all cashew nuts destined for export are transported through the port of Mtwara.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan directed that the port of Mtwara should be the only gateway to transport all the cashews from the Southern Regions by ship abroad.
Speaking to reporters recently, Mtwara Port Manager Mr Ferdinand Nyathi said at least 79,000 tonnes of cashew nuts have already been exported via Mtwara Port. “So far 79,000 tonnes have been handled and transported abroad through the Port of Mtwara as per government’s directives,” he said.
Mr Nyathi added that the consignments were shipped by five different ships that docked at Mtwara Port to handle the cashews.
He said the authority along with other stakeholders are preparing more consignments ready for shipping abroad.
According to Mr Nyathi the port has received several ships with some carrying containers for cashew stuffing and other ships to collect the cashews for export.
