NEWS BANJUL THE GAMBIA (MB)- The Gambia River Basin Cashew Value Chain Enhancement Project (CEP), with funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Monday 28th February 2011, organized a one-day sensitization meeting for exporters, traders, processors, and transporters in the cashew sub-sector.
The sensitatisation brought together exporters, traders, processors, and transporters at the National Nutrition Agency (NANA) conference hall along the Bertil Harding Highway.
The objectives was share information and discuss on several issues that normally characterized the cashew marketing production prices, such as quality quantity delivery methods and times.
In his welcoming remarks Mr. Kebba Jassey International Relief Development CEP project manager said that the meeting marks another step towards the strengthening of cashew production and procession.
He recalled that in 2001, production of raw cashew nuts were estimated at 150 metric tones, while in 2010, production was up to an estimated 8000 metric tones was exported from the port of Banjul.
In his opening remarks the president of Cashew Alliance of The Gambia, Mr. Momodou Ceesay pointed out that they all know that cashew have now assumed a greater economic role in the livelihoods of many farmers and other stakeholders.
According to Ceesay, "on production, processing, and export of cashew nuts have increased significantly within the past ten years, and it is by all indications expected to expand even more in the coming years.
“We currently have three small scale cashew nut processing units, with several new and bigger factories being planned,” he said.
Ceesay stated that more land is being planted with cashew as more farmers, realize the potential contribution of cashew from getting them out of perennial poverty.
He further disclosed that their overall goal is the growth of the cashew sub-sector, and this can only achieved and sustained when all stakeholders realize fair returns from their investments.
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