Tanzanian Government Seeks Buyers For Cashews

Tanzania’s Industry and Trade deputy permanent Secretary Edwin Muhede has appealed to firms attending the India-East Africa Business Forum and Exhibition in Dar es Salaam to purchase cashes, as well as to invest in processing facilities locally. 

Muhede explained that current capacity constraints mean that the state is unable to process the quantity of nuts that are bought from farmers, pledging that those who invested would be supported to ensure a “smooth purchase”.

The cashew sector was recently subject to controversy after private buyers refused to increase prices for growers despite a directive from President John Magufuli to do so. As a result the government purchased the full 220,000 tonnes produced at last year’s harvest. To date the government has confirmed the purchase of 100,000 tonnes by Kenya’s Indo Power Solutions Ltd. 

Addressing representatives from more than 45 companies, Muhede spoke of the importance of India’s relationship with Tanzania stating, "India is one of our main trading partners, and the government of India has greatly contributed to the development programmes in various sectors of our economy."

According to the Tanzania Investment Centre India was the fourth largest source of investment in the country as of 2017.