Browsing: Fairtrade Africa

• Tanzania sets up first Fairtrade-certified cashew nuts processing plant in Mtwara region.
• The country’s cashew nuts market is poised to reach $860.25 million by 2029.
• Cashew nut exports generate $227 million in 2023/2024.

Tanzania’s cashew nuts industry is getting a big boost with the construction of the first Fairtrade plant to add value to the produce within Mtwara region. The industrial park in Mtwara is poised to tap into the region’s massive production to boost the income of millions of farmers.

According to the Cashew Board of Tanzania (CBT), exports of the crop generated a total of $227 million in the 2023/2024 season, a significant increase from the $162 million realized during 2022/2023 period.

With the Tanzania cashew nuts market expected to reach $690.97 million this year and grow at an annual rate of 4.48 per cent to $860.25 million by 2029, this industrial park comes at an opportune time …

Farmers across the continent are expected to meet virtually later this month at a time when they have reported massive losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Fairtrade Africa Programmes Director Chris Oluoch, farmers in Africa lost an estimated 80 percent of their revenue in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oluoch says the pandemic has also seen many workers lose their jobs, as companies closed shop due to lack of access to markets as most countries closed their borders.

Most affected was the flower sector where a number of flower farms shut down their businesses.

“In Kenya, about three flower farms completely shut down their business, while in Tanzania, two farms closed shop. The effects of the pandemic continue to cause havoc on the agriculture sector in the region that is already suffering from post-harvest losses,” said Oluoch.

Oluoch was speaking on Tuesday, 15th June 2021 during …