Maputo, Mozambique, 1 Feb – Mozambique’s National Cashew Institute (Incaju) maintains the forecast of 95,000 tonnes for cashew commercialization in the current season, the Maputo-based newspaper Noticias has reported.

Up to the first fortnight in January nearly 71,400 tonnes of cashews had been commercialized, accounting for 75 percent of the forecast, indicates the daily, citing an Incaju source.

The commercialization campaign is currently under way in the southern region, which should supply the remaining amount to meet the target.

Available data indicate that the quantities to be commercialized this year, while slightly below the anticipated 100,000 tonnes, still represent growth over last year, when 64,150 tonnes were commercialized.

A combination of factors ranging from climate, successful spraying campaigns and the replanting of new stock, as well as recent data on the easing world financial crisis, have given new impetus to the respective players.

The sector involves more than a million families, for some of whom cashews comprise their sole income. Despite its low expression at global level, the industry is considered a strategic area for Mozambique.

Incaju director Filomena Maiopue told Noticias that in the north of the country the transformation industry already has its raw material supply secured.

Overall, the national industry is estimated to have the capacity to process between 25,000 and 30,000 tonnes of cashew nuts, while another 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes will be exported unaltered. The rest will be processed by the informal industry or exported illegally. (macauhub)