Tanzania: Farmers turn to cashew nuts to boost earnings

The Handeni District in Tanga Region is introducing simsim (sesame) and cashewnut as alternative cash crops to boost farmers earnings, the Minister for Industry and Trade, Abdallah Kigoda has said.

Kigoda, also a Member of Parliament for Handeni constituency, said at a public rally that maize farming, which has been relied for many years as both food and cash crop, has faced many challenges.
"For many years farmers have relied on maize as their food and cash crop but its cultivation has faced a lot of challenges although harvests in the previous season were good," he said at the rally organised following a tour of the ruling party CCM Secretary General , Abdulrahman Kinana.
The CCM leader is in a tour of Tanga Region to inspect implementation of promises of the ruling CCM election manifesto in nine constituencies of the region.
The Industry and Trade Minister said the government was planning to supply electricity in Handeni villages to stimulate economic activities and foster social and economic development.
He said they were negotiating with TANROADS to use buildings left after road construction as an institute of vocational education training for students who complete primary and secondary education.
Meanwhile, Mr Kigoda said they would send application to relevant authorities to consider upgrading the status of Handeni District to a region.