Gambia: Stakeholders In the Cashew Sector Pre-Marketing Season 2012

Stakeholders in the cashew sector on Tuesday 29 March convey at the Baobab Holiday Resort to discuss about the cashew marketing season for 2012. The meeting which would last for two days is orgnaised by the International Relief and Development-the Gambia under the project, the Gambia River Basin Cashew value chain Enhancement Project (CEP).

The meeting was organised to facilitate consultations between and amongst key stakeholders of the cashew value chain and it would also gave opportunity for participants to review and assess the performance of the 2012 cashew marketing season in order to identify key successes and challenges and also assess the outlook for the 2012 marketing season to identify opportunities and threats.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, the project manager of CEP Kebba Jassey said cashew has been gaining momentum over the years. He said the cashew value chain is an issue that needs to be looked at in order to strengthen the chain further so that there would be a fair play in the chain. He noted that, the growing of cashew in the country is increasing tremendously as in 2011; a total of 150 metric tons was grown. “This is a huge production over the past years”, he said.

He further noted that last year 15 thousand metric tons of raw cashew nuts were produced.

He stated that the cashew exporters are also coming up in the chain as there are almost 10-15 cashew exporters in the country. Mr. Jassey said during the intervention of the CEP project they have small scale processing in the Gambia who is coming into the chain. He noted that more and more farmers are getting into cashew each year. He alluded that they want cashew to be the crop that would address the needs of people who are involved in its production and processing.

“Everyone in the cashew value chain is important” he said.

Mr. Jassey challenged participants to be open in their discussion so as to make momentum in cashew value chain. He urged them to share the information so that all cashew producers and processors can succeed in the value chain of cashew.

The Permanent Secretary for Agriculture Mr. Sanna Dahaba said cashew plays an important role in the economics of the Gambia. He said significant improvement has been made both with cashew processors, growers and producers. He noted that cashew is one of the most important crops in the country; therefore strengthening the sub sector is very important. He said the ministry of agriculture will play a vital role in revitalizing the cashew sector.

Source: http://www.foroyaa.gm/modules/news/article.php?storyid=9351