The Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) has urged investors to embark on cashew nut processing and promised to help those who are ready to venture in the industry in EPZ.
Tanzania has few cashew processing factories and as a result most of the crop is exported raw at lower prices.
EPZA Director for Investment Promotion and Facilitation Zawadia Nanyaro told journalists during the cashew nut stakeholders meeting held in Dar es Salaam earlier this week that few processing units undermined the sub-sector.
“This is one of the major cash crops in this country, its development should be supported by establishing processing factories,” she said. She said EPZA encourages both local and foreign investors to take advantage of facilities offered by the Authority and establish factories and for this case, cashew processing ones.
She noted that when foreign investors come they also help locals in terms of technology transfer and expertise and therefore development. “We are happy for this meeting, we have used it to give people what EPZA can offer and welcomed them,” she explained.
She said that over 90 per cent of cashew nuts produced are exported in raw form and that this denies farmers get their right value. The Vice Chairman of Africa Cashew Nut Alliance, Mr Maokola Majogo said there is need for the government and other stakeholders to make sure that farmers get reliable markets for their produce.
“This is a very crucial crop for the Southern regions and Tanzania at large, it is a cause to support it for the good of the nation,” he said.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, Eng. Christopher Chiza said the southern regions have the capacity to produce 154,000 tonnes of cashew nut per annum and the goal is to reach 300,000 tonnes.
“We want to reach a stage where whenever such crops like cashew nut, tobacco and cotton get problems with markets out there, the government will be able to bail out farmers,” he said.
He said such measures will enable production to continue and bring in stability because such crops are crucial for development. Up to now EPZA has managed to establish a total of 72 industries which are operational in the country.
By facilitating establishment of such industries, the authority has created a total of 28,000 direct employment and 100,000 indirect jobs.