First Breakfast Debate for 2008!

Cashews are a significant export for Tanzania and a vital basis of income for small holders in the southern coastal region of the country. However, there are many challenges associated with the cashew nuts market, production and value of it in Tanzania which contribute to Tanzanian cashew farmers being unable to move themselves out of abject poverty.

For instance, although Tanzania cashew exports grew steadily from 1990 to 2000, there was a collapse thereafter due to a fall in the commodity’s prices. Moreover, Tanzania still exports mostly raw rather than processed cashew meaning there is no value added to the produce. Meanwhile, in less than a decade, Vietnam has managed to overtake Tanzania as a major cashew producer. The industry is now left at crossroads and incidents of district authorities in Mtwara Region threatening to fine and confiscate land if farmers do not tend their cashew trees is only a manifestation of how this potentially lucrative sector has stagnated.

Recognising the salience of this industry, Policy Forum and HakiElimu have decided to dedicate this month’s debate is to hear from representatives and stakeholders currently working in the Cashew nuts market, to examine the critical issues surrounding the Tanzanians farmers and Tanzania as a major producer of cashew nuts. This will involve discussions on how to improve the cashew market within this industry and how best to ensure that we retain the profits from the cashew nuts produced in Tanzania to benefit the people of Tanzania.

The breakfast debate to be held on JANUARY 25, 2008 and entitled “State, Markets and Cashew nuts”, centres on a research by the Tanzania Development Research Group (TADREG) which looked at the Cashew Situation in Tanzania as of 2007. The report touches the span in marketing and processing of the Cashew.

Mr. Brian Cooksey Executive Director, TADREG and John Shao, Consultant TADREG will present their views on cashew nuts production in Tanzania.

The 7:30 People and Policy Debates are held on the last Friday of every month at the UNICEF New Resource Centre on Magore/Bibi Titi Mohammed Street, from 07:30 to 09:30. Their main purpose is to examine and debate the extent to which policies serve ordinary people, and identify imaginative questions and solutions. The debates are jointly organized by Policy Forum and HakiElimu. For more information, contact Lina W. Magoma at intern1@policyforum.or.tz or by phone 2772611.