Tanzanians have been advised to cultivate a habit of eating Cashew nuts which are packed with energy, antioxidans, minerals and vitamins which are essential for a robust health.
The Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, Mr Adam Malima said cashew nuts have no cholesterol, making them good for people with heart problems. “Fats contents found in the cashew nuts improve blood circulation, making them good for those with heart problems,” he explained.
Mr Malima was speaking at the 37th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), when launching a special day for testing cashew nuts. Hundreds of people queued to test the nut. Mr Malima explained that other minerals and vitamins found in cashew nuts are good for the body and can be used between meals.
The Chairman of the CashewNut Board of Tanzaniana (CBT), Mr Mfaume Juma said the board will manage and seek out for markets for the crop.
Mr Juma said the board is also promoting processing of the crop in the country to add value, noting that there is considerable income being lost in exporting unprocessed nuts.
Tanzania is Africa’s largest cashew nut grower after Nigeria and Ivory Coast and the world’s eighth biggest producer.
According to the 2012 CBT report, Tanzania exported about 158,000 metric tonnes of cashew nuts in the 2011/2012 season. However, although 90 per cent of the crop was harvested in the country, less than 10 per cent was processed locally.
Source Tanzania Daily News
