Tanzania—Presidents Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania and Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique have pledged to deepen their relationship, focusing on unifying African cashew producers to strengthen their presence in the global market.
This declaration came during a press conference at the State House in Dar es Salaam following bilateral discussions.
President Nyusi, currently on a three-day state visit to Tanzania, engaged in talks that primarily centered on economic cooperation, particularly highlighting the shared borders of the two countries and the mutual benefits of collaboration.
“We produce cashew nuts, but neither of us controls the global prices,” “We agreed to form a union to have a unified voice in the market,” President Samia noted.
This initiative follows a proposal similar to that of the President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Embaló, who also endorsed the idea during his visit to Tanzania.
The two leaders emphasized the need to increase cashew production and add value to the crop to maximize economic benefits.
President Samia underscored the importance of research and unity among African cashew producers. Their discussions were not limited to cashews; they also signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to enhance cooperation in health and investment.
“We discussed our trade relations and noted that despite strong political ties, our trade levels are still low. Therefore, we agreed to enhance these relations and increase investment,” President Samia stated.
A key decision from the talks was to establish single customs posts at the Mtambaswala border on the Tanzanian side and a similar post in Mozambique to facilitate trade.
Tanzania has seen a remarkable growth in cashew nut production, with the 2023/24 season reaching 305,014 metric tons, up from 189,114 metric tons in the previous season.
This surge is largely due to the government’s provision of subsidized agricultural inputs, which saw the value of subsidies double to 188.99 billion shillings (US$72M) in the 2023/24 season.
To further support this growth, the government has laid out strategies to achieve a production target of 400,000 tons in the 2023/24 season.
In addition, Tanzania targets exporting processed cashew nuts by 2026/27 instead of transporting raw cashew nuts outside the country.
To achieve this, the country plans to establish a cashew nut industrial park in Maranje, Mtwara region.
The project, spearheaded by the Cashew Council (CBT), will occupy a 636-hectare site and is expected to cost approximately 7.5 billion shillings (US$ 2.9 million).
This development marks a significant step towards enhancing the country’s cashew nut processing capabilities and boosting local value addition.
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