UNIDO's cashew nuts processing, export manuals will boost sector performance, says Trade Minister

The Cashew nuts Processing and Simplified Export Manuals by United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) will significantly boost the sector’s performance, Industry and Trade Minister Dr Abdallah Kigoda has reassured stakeholders and farmers.

Speaking at the official launch of the manual over the weekend in Dar es Salaam, the minister said, following the manual will systematize increased productivity and sustain growth of the sector.

“It will create employment, generate income and contribute to government’s earnings,” he emphasized.

Dr Kigoda described the manual as ‘one of the few commendable innovations in the cashew value chain.’

“The manual ensures resource optimization…processing of cashew apple also means improving nutrition since the apple is very rich in vitamin C…this is expansion of the value chains,” he explained.

Dr Kigoda who is also the Handeni lawmaker said rurall communities that produce the crop stand to gain the most from the multiple benefits in the production of cashew nuts.

“The The Cashew nuts Processing and Simplified Export Manuals also contains important and necessary information to guide investment and operations in the production and trading of cashew nut and related products,” noted the Industry and Trade Minister.

“It guides on how our SMEs can be supported with the information related they need particularly in the access of international markets…a key aspect that SMEs have until now not being able to secure,” the minister went on to say.

“As SMEs access the international markets, they can expect to get better competitive prices, and their exposure to these competitive environments will stimulate innovativeness and creative thinking that are very important ingredients for their survival in the market,” Dr Kigoda said.

“This is in line with National and Sector Specific Policies which aim at boosting the agricultural sector that is the main source of income for livelihoods of over 70 per cent of Tanzanians residing in the rural areas,” the minister detailed.

He said the manual compliments the country’s long term development plans which advocate for resource based industrialization as a driver for the social economic transformation.

“It is also in line with the Kilimo Kwanza initiative geared at improving production and value addition to crops,” Dr Kigoda added.

He reiterated that the government conceives industrialization as the main catalyst to transform the economy, generate sustainable growth and reduce poverty.

“These industrial policies are the government’s measures aimed at improving competiveness and capabilities of domestic manufacturing firms and promoting structural transformations,” he said.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN