Cashew stakeholders call for research on development of new and improved cashew variant

Cashew industry stakeholders called on governments and key development partners to increase investment in cashew production research to support the industry.

This call was made to 15^e The African Cashew Alliance (ACA) Annual Cashew Conference which started last Wednesday fully online.

According to stakeholders, the growing nature of the cashew industry calls for a more sustainable cashew supply chain whose sustainable production is essential.

Speaking in a plenary session, the panel, made up of experts and actors from the cashew industry, felt that it was important for farmers to be able to produce more fruits and nuts. cashews per tree than what they currently produce, to maintain tree life and improve quality. These, they believed, were possible through research.

Competitive Cashew Initiative (ComCashew) Executive Director Rita Weidnger explained that for sustainable cashew production it is important that appropriate research is conducted to increase producer productivity and improve nut variants. cashew in order to maximize the production potential of cashew nuts in West Africa in particular.

Intersnack International purchasing manager Wim Weidnger added that proper research is needed to develop a “shake the tree” cashew variant.

“There is a need for a cashew variant where the fruits will not just fall off the tree but can stay on the tree even when shaken. With this, farmers will not have to go out every day to pick fruit. It will also improve the quality of the fruits and nuts produced, ”he explained.

Speaking at a sustainable production roundtable on Thursday at the same conference, a cashew value chain specialist at Stella Maris Mtwara University Collage, Professor Peter Masawe, stressed the need to lead research into the production of resistant cashew varieties capable of resisting pests. and diseases while producing good quality fruits and nuts in West Africa.

“Even though there are currently no major outbreaks of pests and diseases, West Africa needs to prepare to tackle these pests and diseases when they do. This requires extensive research into developing resilient cashew variants, ”he said.

However, he indicated that cashew research and experimentation takes years longer, is very demanding and requires a lot of human and financial resources and therefore requires investments from governments and development partners.

“The cashew nut experiment takes many years to complete. It also requires a large area, improved technology and a lot of financial and human resources, ”he said.

“Each country must invest more and encourage research on cashew production, develop new variants and support farmers,” he added.

For her part, the production manager of the Cashew and Cotton Council of Côte d’Ivoire, Dr Ouattara Gnire Mariam, said that production, especially smallholder production, is the heart of the sugar industry. cashew and therefore requires appropriate investment, especially in research, from governments and development partners, while supporting factories to increase local processing.

The Director of Crop Services at Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Seth Osie-Akoto, said Ghana is at an advanced stage of cashew research.

He said the country has, over the past fourteen years, been engaged in research on the development of improved cashew variants led by the Ghana Cocoa Research Institute (CRIG).

He pointed out that the country is currently benefiting from the many years of cashew research in the form of superior yields and quality compared to its cashew producing counterparts in West Africa.

“Ghana is already supporting countries like Benin, Togo and Senegal in researching new variations and techniques of cashew production,” he said.

He called on African countries to devote resources to cashew research.