Vietnam: Cashew firms urged to add value to products

HCMC – The Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas) has called on local enterprises to add more value to their cashew products to help Vietnam stay on as the world’s biggest cashew nut exporter.

Vietnam has been the world’s No. 1 cashew nut exporter over the past 10 years but 90% of domestically-processed products are packaged nuts, Vinacas said at an international conference on cashew business in HCMC on Monday.

At the conference, representatives of cashew enterprises painted a bleak picture for cashew exporters, saying that if cashew products are not added with more value, export growth would be affected.

Vinacas said a number of local firms have invested in modern technology and machines to make more value-added cashew products for export and domestic consumption.

The change was seen through cashew products on show on the sidelines of the conference. Unlike in previous years in which companies mainly made salty and honey cashew nuts, the exhibits this year included wasabi- and chocolate-coated cashew nuts; cashew nut cakes, pizzas, banh tet (Vietnam’s cylindrical glutinous rice cake filled with green bean paste and pork) and other foods with cashew nuts.

Vinacas chairman Nguyen Duc Thanh called for cashew businesses to pay due attention to packaging and marketing if they want to attract more consumers on the domestic market.

Over the years, enterprises in the sector have centered more on export of packaged cashew nuts than domestic marketing. Therefore, they should draw up marketing and promotion strategies if they want to ramp up domestic sales.

A long return on investment is one of the hindrances to cashew enterprises that turn out value-added products for sale at local supermarkets and convenience stores. To cope with this, a number of producers have managed to boost exports to have funds for expanding domestic market share.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development expects value-added products will make up 20% of total processed cashew nuts, according to a master zoning development plan for the sector until 2020 with a vision towards 2030, approved by the ministry in February this year. The aim for 2030 will be 40-50%.

*** Vietnam earned US$1.97 billion from shipping abroad 272,000 tons of cashew nuts in the first 10 months this year, up 6% in volume and more than 18% in value, according to the ministry.

Dang Hoang Giang, vice chairman of Vinacas, said Vietnam’s cashew nut revenue is forecast to reach a record high of US$2.5 billion this year.

Vietnam has exported cashew nuts to 50 markets, according to Vinacas.

Source: http://vinacas.blogspot.in

International Conference which was 7 in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam- Thu Nov 26, 2015

In order to improve the quality of Vietnam's cashew opportunity of international integration, Vietnam Cashew Association in collaboration with the Department for Trade Promotion organized an international conference that Vietnam 7th HCMC.

Themed Vietnam's cashew industry towards cleaner production, this year's conference has attracted many leading food associations and countries of Vietnam enterprises operating in the field of growing and processing cashews . In the first 10 months of 2015 the export volume of Vietnam reached 272,000 tonnes Export turnover up to US $ 1.97 billion. 2015 is the 10th consecutive year that Vietnam holds industry leading position in the export of cashew kernels.

The conference showed growth oriented processing industry of Vietnam is greener and cleaner production, ensuring the high quality products, food safety and hygiene. The conference is one of the annual activities of the Vietnam Cashew Association Vinacas over 25 years of establishment and development, accompany and elevate the processing industry of Vietnam. In the framework of the conference, Vietnam association that organizes Vinacas galas and bilateral dialogue between enterprises of Vietnam thing and international, as well as development forums Vietnam Cashew.

Information Center

Source: HTV

11 months in 2015: The agricultural sector 6.26 billion trade surplus

Thu Nov 26, 2015

Cashew, cassava and cassava products are two commodities exports have continued to increase in the first 11 months of 2015.

According to MARD, exports of agricultural, forestry and fisheries in November 2015 is estimated at 2.57 billion dollars, 11 months export value of the sector reached 27.41 billion dollars, down 1.9% yoy year 2014.

In particular, the value of exports of major agricultural commodities estimated at 12.74 billion, down 4% compared to the same period of 2014, decreased very sharply in commodities such as coffee (30.2%), rubber (15.5%).

Accordingly, the volume of coffee exports in 11 months was estimated at 1.13 million tons with a total value of $ 2.3 billion, down 27.7% in volume and 30.2% in value over the same period 2014. Coffee export prices average 10 months to reach $ 2,032 / ton, down 2.6% compared with 2014. Germany and the United States continued to be the market two largest coffee consumption in Vietnam in 10 months in 2015 with a market share of 13.85% respectively and 11.56%. The value of coffee exports in the first 10 months in 10 key markets of Vietnam are lower than in the same period of 2014.

For rubber products, 11 months of the year exports totaled 983 thousand tons, valued at $ 1.35 billion, up 3.6% in volume but fell by 15.5% in value over the same period in 2014 . Price of rubber exported an average of 10 months to reach $ 1,401 / ton, down 18.7% from the same period in 2014.

Two staples like rice and fishery consecutive decrease from this year, in particular, exports of rice decreased by 4.9% compared to the same period of 2014, seafood export value in November was estimated at 593 million, bringing the export value last 11 months reached 6.01 billion US dollars, decreased to 16.4% compared to the same period in 2014.

Among agricultural commodities for export, cashew, cassava and cassava products are two commodities exports have continued to increase in the first 11 months of 2015.

Accordingly, the export volume of cashew nuts 11 months reached 300 thousand tons to 2.18 billion dollars, up 7.3% in volume and 19.2% in value over the same period of 2014. Prices county it exported an average of 10 months in 2015 $ 7,269 / ton, up 11.3% over the same period in 2014.

The volume of export of cassava and cassava products in the first 11 months of 3.67 million tons in 2015 worth US $ 1.18 billion, up 19.3% in volume and 15.6% in value same period of 2014. In the first 10 months of 2015, China remains the main import markets accounted for 89.14% market share, up 30.79% in volume and 26.4% in value over the same Any 2014.

According to MARD, the import value of agriculture, forestry and fisheries in the May 11, 2015 was estimated at 21.15 billion dollars, up 6.9% over the same period of 2014. Thus, in 11 first months of 2015, the agricultural sector has surplus of 6.26 billion dollars.

Nguyen Hanh

Source: Industry and Trade

Vietnam Cashew nuts account for 50% of the world market

Mon Nov 23, 2015

On 23-11 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas) in collaboration with Trade Promotion Agency (Ministry of Trade) organized an international conference that Vietnam themed " Vietnam's cashew industry towards cleaner production ".

The conference had over 300 participants that attended enterprises, of which 65% foreign enterprises from over 30 countries around the world.

Nguyen Duc Thanh, chairman VINACAS, said the first 10 months of 2015, export volume reached 272,000 individual tons with exports of 1.9 billion dollars, an increase of 6% in volume and over 18% in value over the same year 2014. By 2015, this sector will export $ 2.5b, of which $ 2.3 billion individual, the highest ever. In 2015, Vietnam continued to maintain a market share of over 50% of total global trade of cashew nuts ($ 5 billion) and was also the 10th consecutive year, branch of Vietnam keeps leading position on individual exporters.

According to Thanh, Vietnam is currently processing about 1.3 million tons of cashew / year, domestic supply was only 500,000 tons, 800,000 tons of cashew rest is imported from Africa and Cambodia. The quality of cashew nuts is the biggest concern of the exporters. Currently the export processing enterprises nut meet HACCP, ISO 9001, ISO 1400, ISO 2200 and applied sciences investment of modern technology to improve the quality of cashew nuts, ensure safety food.

Quang Huy

Source: City Law. HCM

Vietnam Cashew become 'boss' world / Technology cashew processing VN throne

Thu Nov 26, 2015

If previously a machine peeled buy silk from Italy can cost up to 27,000 euros (nearly 650 million calculated at current exchange rates), the current enterprise (company) processing Vietnamese cashew exporters only have to spend 250 million copper by using domestic technology. Therefore most of the nut processing enterprises using domestic machinery production.

"Not only saving billions investment costs of machinery and equipment which it is arguable quality, technological machinery and Vietnam are efficiently and accurately is not inferior foreign goods" - Mr. Nguyen Xuan Khoi, Mold Machine Company Director Vietnam, members Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas), said confidently.

Reduce costs, increase competitiveness

Mr. Khoi said, export processing cashews nine stages are now eight stages using machines and equipment in the country.

This is completely different than 4-5 years ago. Meanwhile businesses that must import virtually 100% of machinery from China, Italy, India. There are machines imported from Italy worth more than 1 billion, purchased all nine stages, each business must put tens of billions, even hundreds of billions to large-scale companies.

To redress the machinery must depend exchange, businesses that have links with domestic engineering firms study successfully manufacture various types of machinery and equipment for the processing stages cashew exports. If the comparison of costs and prices of machinery Vietnam only 50% -80% of imported machinery.

"Many of the machines manufactured by Vietnamese enterprises may say well not worse than that of the world, even have some superior features than the modern machines of Italy, India. For example shellers our country silk ratio higher seed peeling, blowing cleaner machine imported from Italy. Mowers domestic cashew nut shell extract the highest percentage who achieved 90%, 10% is due to deformed nuts. Thus it can be said to reach 100% accuracy "- Mr. Khoi said.

Not only is the technology initiative, the investment cost of machinery, cashew enterprises also reduce labor costs. According to Mr. Gong, almost present the company's machines are automated, high precision should use very little labor. If previously required approximately 100 employees, with domestic machinery manufacturing labor just 20-30.

This helps reduce costs, reduce production costs, increase competitiveness in the market.

Exports of machinery "made in Vietnam"

Mr. Le Van Dat, Director of Gia Loi (Long An), said today that the sector companies are exporting to foreign countries all the machines have high accuracy as dryers, moisture meters, metal detectors, Color separation, separation particle size, sterilization, packaging of finished products.

In particular, many businesses are built cashew processing machines the products of high added value such as salted cashew nuts, it fried, snack ... export conditions. It is this increase the value of Vietnamese cashew nuts.

Nguyen Duc Thanh, chairman of the Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas), said there are now 10 member enterprises exporting machinery, equipment and offshore sectors thing. Mainly exported to Africa.

Notably, former Vietnam imports machinery from India, one of the countries with the advanced processing technology, but now it's back to buy machinery and Vietnam.

Vietnam is estimated that each year about 1.3 million tons of processed cashews. Vinacas said to technological development, increased competitiveness, the association with the Science and Technology Committee in connection with mechanical engineering enterprises, institutes, universities, research improvement of machinery, equipment, technology in cashew processing.

Vietnamese cashew nuts account for 50% of the world market

According to MARD, May 10, 2015, the export growth continued in the context of most major agricultural commodities in our country are declining.

Specifically, the number of individual exports totaled 272,000 tons with a turnover of close to $ 2 billion, up 6% in volume and 18% in value over the same period last year. The forecast of exports in 2015 will reach $ 2.5 billion, of which USD 2.3 billion people that is, the highest ever, continue debuted at number one in the world and accounts for 50% of world market share .

QUANG HUY

Source: City Law. HCM

Việt Nam trở thành 'ông trùm' hạt điều thế giới

Không chỉ đứng số một thế giới về sản lượng và giá trị xuất khẩu, ngành điều Việt Nam có thể nói là ngành hiếm hoi xuất khẩu công nghệ ra nước ngoài.

Nếu trước đây một cái máy bóc vỏ lụa mua từ Ý có giá tới 27.000 euro (gần 650 triệu đồng tính theo tỉ giá hiện nay) thì hiện nay doanh nghiệp (DN) chế biến xuất khẩu hạt điều Việt chỉ phải bỏ ra 250 triệu đồng do sử dụng công nghệ trong nước. Chính vì vậy hầu hết DN chế biến hạt điều đều sử dụng máy móc trong nước sản xuất.

“Không chỉ tiết kiệm được hàng tỉ đồng chi phí đầu tư máy móc, thiết bị mà điều đáng nói là chất lượng, công nghệ máy móc Việt Nam còn hiệu quả, chính xác không thua kém hàng ngoại” - ông Nguyễn Xuân Khôi, Giám đốc Công ty Khuôn máy Việt, hội viên Hiệp hội Điều Việt Nam (Vinacas), tự tin nói.

Giảm chi phí, tăng sức cạnh tranh

Ông Khôi cho biết thêm, ngành chế biến xuất khẩu hạt điều có chín công đoạn thì hiện nay tám công đoạn sử dụng máy móc, thiết bị trong nước.

Điều này hoàn toàn khác với cách đây 4-5 năm. Khi đó DN điều hầu như phải nhập khẩu 100% máy móc từ Trung Quốc, Ý, Ấn Độ. Có những loại máy nhập từ Ý giá hơn 1 tỉ đồng, sắm hết chín công đoạn, mỗi DN phải bỏ hàng chục tỉ, thậm chí hàng trăm tỉ đồng đối với những công ty quy mô lớn.

Để khắc phục tình trạng phải phụ thuộc máy móc ngoại, DN điều đã liên kết với các DN cơ khí trong nước nghiên cứu chế tạo thành công nhiều loại máy móc, thiết bị cho các công đoạn chế biến xuất khẩu hạt điều. Nếu so về giá thành, giá máy móc Việt Nam chỉ bằng 50%-80% giá máy móc nhập khẩu.

Công nghệ chế biến hạt điều Việt gây chú ý khách hàng nước ngoài. Ảnh: QUANG HUY

“Nhiều loại máy móc do DN Việt chế tạo có thể nói tốt không thua kém các nước trên thế giới, thậm chí có một số tính năng vượt trội hơn các máy móc hiện đại của Ý, Ấn Độ. Ví dụ như máy bóc vỏ lụa của nước ta tỉ lệ hạt tróc vỏ cao hơn, thổi sạch hơn máy nhập từ Ý. Máy cắt vỏ hạt điều trong nước độ bung nhân đạt tỉ lệ cao nhất 90%, 10% còn lại là do hạt điều bị dị dạng. Như vậy có thể nói đạt độ chính xác tới 100%” - ông Khôi khẳng định.

Không chỉ chủ động được công nghệ, tiết kiệm chi phí đầu tư máy móc, DN hạt điều còn giảm được chi phí nhân công. Theo ông Công, hầu như hiện nay các máy móc của công ty đều tự động hóa, độ chính xác cao nên sử dụng lao động rất ít. Nếu trước đây cần khoảng 100 lao động thì với máy móc trong nước sản xuất chỉ cần 20-30 lao động.

Điều này giúp giảm được nhiều chi phí, giảm được giá thành sản xuất, tăng sức cạnh tranh trên thị trường.

Xuất khẩu máy móc “made in VietNam”

Ông Lê Văn Đạt, Giám đốc Công ty Gia Lợi (Long An), nói hiện nay các DN ngành điều đang xuất khẩu ra nước ngoài cả những máy móc có độ chính xác cao như máy sấy, đo độ ẩm, dò kim loại, phân tách màu, phân tách cỡ hạt, khử trùng, đóng gói thành phẩm.

Đặc biệt, nhiều DN ngành điều còn chế tạo những máy móc chế biến ra những sản phẩm có giá trị gia tăng cao như hạt điều rang muối, điều chiên, điều snack… xuất khẩu. Chính điều này làm tăng giá trị của hạt điều Việt.

Ông Nguyễn Đức Thanh, Chủ tịch Hiệp hội Điều Việt Nam (Vinacas), cho biết hiện nay có khoảng 10 DN hội viên xuất khẩu được máy móc, thiết bị ngành điều ra nước ngoài. Chủ yếu xuất khẩu sang châu Phi.

Đáng chú ý, trước đây Việt Nam nhập khẩu máy móc từ Ấn Độ, một trong những nước có công nghệ chế biến điều tiên tiến nhưng giờ nước này lại đi mua máy móc của Việt Nam.

Uớc tính mỗi năm Việt Nam chế biến khoảng 1,3 triệu tấn hạt điều. Vinacas cho hay để phát triển công nghệ, tăng sức cạnh tranh, hiệp hội có Ban Khoa học công nghệ để liên kết với các DN ngành cơ khí, các viện, trường đại học nghiên cứu cải tiến máy móc, thiết bị, công nghệ trong chế biến hạt điều.

Hạt điều Việt chiếm 50% thị phần thế giới

Theo Bộ NN&PTNT, 10 tháng năm 2015, xuất khẩu điều tiếp tục tăng trưởng trong bối cảnh hầu hết mặt hàng nông sản chủ lực của nước ta đều giảm sút.

Cụ thể, số lượng nhân điều xuất khẩu đạt 272.000 tấn với kim ngạch gần 2 tỉ USD, tăng 6% về lượng và trên 18% về giá trị so với cùng kỳ năm ngoái. Dự báo năm 2015 xuất khẩu điều sẽ đạt 2,5 tỉ USD, trong đó nhân điều là 2,3 tỉ USD, cao nhất từ trước đến nay, tiếp tục đứng vị trí số một thế giới và chiếm 50% thị phần thế giới.

QUANG HUY

Mozambican increases cashew nut processing

Mohammed Yunus Abdul Gaffar, president of the Cashew Industry Association (Aicaju), said he expected the cashew campaign in Mozambique to be good this year, which was the basis for growth of the processing industry. Cashew processing companies are expected to process 41,500 tons of nuts by the end of the year, a 66 percent increase compared to the 25,000 tons processed in 2014.

The industrial cashew sector in Mozambique currently employs just over 12,000 workers, a number that is expected to increase in the near future with the entry into operation of new plants, according to daily newspaper Notícias. A new cashew processing factory will be inaugurated shortly in Nampula district and another is due to start operating in 2016 in the Liupo district.

There are currently 14 cashew processing factories operating in Mozambique, mostly in Nampula province, the country’s largest producer, with over 14 million cashew trees.

The goal for 2015/2016 is to sell 100,000 tons, against 80,000 ton the previous year.

Source: macauhub.com.mo

Yes, cashew nuts must be processed

The Acting Cashewnut Board Chairman, Mr Mudhihir Mudhihir, announced the good news on Monday, when addressing a press conference in Dar es Salaam on the sidelines of the Third International Cashew Conference (ICC).

Mr Mudhihir revealed that construction of the factories in Mtwara, Tunduru and Mkuranga were earlier planned to start last month, but due to some logistical constraints the projects have been delayed.

Construction of the three factories are expected to bring about tremendous change to the welfare of thousands of cashew growers in the country as well as providing jobs to several hundreds of thousands of people in the areas.

According to officials in the Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperatives and Marketing, the proposed factories are projected to absorb up to 80 per cent of cashew nut produced in the country. Most of the crop is currently exported raw to several Asian countries including India, where processing factories continue to offer jobs to thousands.

It is hoped that the proposed factories will bring to an end decades of the unfortunate scenario that saw Tanzania exporting jobs to Asian nations.

However, the processing factories should also be extended to other crops including cotton, coffee, oil seeds and fruit, which continue to be exported raw, much to the chagrin of millions of farmers. Tanzania has great potential in developing those crops and is among the leading producers on the African continent.

Tanzanians have for long been calling for establishment of processing factories and broad industrialisation programmes to accelerate poverty reduction. The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) in its 2015-2020 Election Manufesto underlined that industrialisation and agro-based factories are among its priorities.

President John Pombe Magufuli is his campaign trail repeatedly declared that industrialisation was going to feature prominently in his development agenda. This is the time for action.

Source: http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/editorial/44301-yes-cashew-nuts-must-be-processed

A VIDEO INTRODUCE ABOUT DONAFOODS VIETNAM

Tanzania: Cashew Industry Gets Sh30 Billion Boost

November 16, 2015

Dar es Salaam — About Sh30 billion has already been allocated for the construction of three cashew nut factories which will help to boost country's processing capacity of the second largest export cash crop.The factories that are planned to be built in Mtwara, Mkuranga and Tunduru will save the current 80 per cent of Tanzania cashew nuts exported in raw form and deny the country's opportunity to create employment, collect revenue through some taxes and enable farmers earn more from processed cashews.Each factory will have capacity to process 10,000 tonnes of cashew nuts per annum and assure farmers with high returns when their produces are processed locally before exporting. Cashew nut Industry Development Trust Fund (CIDTF) will fund the construction of the industries.Acting Chairman, Cashew nut Board of Tanzania (CBT), Mr Mudhihir Mudhihir told the press yesterday at the sideline of 3rd International Cashew Conference held in Dar es Salaam and brought together 140 participants from 22 countries that the construction is waiting some activities to complete."We had planned to start the work October this year but the designs are yet to be completed," he said.

According to Mr Mudhihir, Ardhi Universality (Aru) was contracted to work on the designs while the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) was working of the best approach of operating the industries.The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Cooperative, Sophia Kaduma told participants from countries like Ghana, Malawi, India, Kenya, Benin, Australia, Pakistan, Mozambique and Burkina Faso that Tanzania is very concerned with low processing capacity and that is why effort is in place to increase local processing capacity.Ms Kaduma informed the participants that cashew nuts will be the first crop to benefit from the Commodity Exchange Market which was launched recently by the retired president, Jakaya Kikwete."We will only have to link the Receipt Warehouse System to the Commodity Exchange Market to ease marketing activities of the crop," said Ms Kaduma.

Source: http://allafrica.com/storie

Cashew exports to reach record high

HCM CITY (VNS)  — Cashew export value is expected to reach a record high of US$2.5 billion this year, according to the Viet Nam Cashew Association (Vinacas).
Viet Nam exported 272,000 tonnes of cashew nuts at a value of $1.97 billion in the first 10 months of the year, a year-on-year increase of 6 per cent in volume and more than 18 per cent in value.
The association has encouraged its members to focus more on processed products and producing "green and safe" products.
It also plans to promote sales in the domestic market in an effort to raise the industry's total trade value to $2.7 billion next year.
Vinacas will organise the seventh Golden Cashew Rendezvous in HCM City from November 22-24, with the aim of introducing foreign buyers to the cashew processing industry's sustainable development strategy and expanding market share for cashew products.
As part of the national trade promotion programme, the event will include the Viet Nam-Africa cashew forum, Viet Nam cashew value forum, a panel discussion on the global cashew market in 2015 and forecasts for 2016, and a Viet Nam cashew exhibition and technology seminar.
Participants will include policymakers, leaders of localities and local and international associations, more than 300 business delegates, of whom 65 per cent are representatives of foreign companies from 30 countries and territories.
Last year, the country earned $2 billion from exporting 300,000 tonnes of cashew nuts and $200,000 from cashew byproducts.
In 2014, for the ninth consecutive year, Viet Nam ranked first in the world in cashew nut exports. — VNS
"http://vietnamnews.vn"

Cashew nut production in Mozambique approaches 100,000 tons

November 4th, 2015

Sales of cashew nuts in Mozambique in the 2015/2016 campaign could reach 100,000 tons, according to information released by the director of the National Institute of Cashew Promotion (Incaju), Filomena Maiópuè in Muecate, Nampula province.Maiópuè, who took part in the official launch of the sales year, recalled that in the previous campaign sales totalled 80,000 tons, so that “achieving the goal of 100,000 tons is something that we view as possible.”At the time, the director of Incaju noted that Mozambique has 14 cashew processing plants, mostly operating in Nampula province.Nampula has an estimated 14 million cashew trees and is the Mozambican province with the highest cashew production.

Source: www.macauhub.com

Indian Exporters may Face Trouble in Their Forward Commitments

Tue Nov 03, 2015

Tanzanian raw cashew is trading around $1625/Ton/Count 200 per kilo/Goa-Mangalore. Sellers are asking $100 more for 185 count nuts. Despite there is no shortage of raw cashew in India, most processors have emptied their better quality nuts during the Ramadan and Diwali season.

Indian exporters may face trouble in their forward commitments as the production level yield of W320, W240 and other higher grades is now almost negligible.  Situation may slightly improve after the arrival of Tanzanian and Indonesian raw nuts.

Source: http://worldcashew.com/

Study reinforces cashew nutritional value

November 2, 2015

For the first time, a team of researchers have analysed the nutritional composition of raw cashew nuts from the largest growing regions around the world, providing a much better approximation of the real nutrient content of cashews.Researchers studied the composition of raw cashew kernels from India, Ivory Coast, Vietnam, Brazil, Mozambique, and Kenya. Composition analysis was conducted within three months after harvest, and included dietary fibre, sugar, protein, lipid profile, salt, energy content, sterol content and profile, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.

The researchers concluded that cashews are a good source of nutrients as they are rich in healthy unsaturated fats, high in dietary fibre and have an excellent profile of plant-based proteins. They also contain a wide variety of important micro nutrients including vitamins and amino acids. No significant differences were found among samples from different origins.The results also showed that cashews are relatively high in fat, but most of that fat (80%) is unsaturated. It is important to look at not only the amount of fat, but also the type. Saturated fat can raise blood cholesterol levels, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. On the contrary, unsaturated fats, such as mono- and polyunsaturated fat, can actually decrease low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol) levels.Modern human nutrition research has linked nuts consumption with several health benefits due to their particular nutrient composition. Including nuts in a healthy diet is associated to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality, especially stroke, and to a decreased risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Furthermore, epidemiological and clinical studies have shown that frequent nut intake is not associated with weight gain.

The study is available to read, download and share at:

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fsn3.294/epdf

Cashew processors face bleak future

November 4, 2015

About 10 out of the 13 cashew processing companies in the country have collapsed or halted operations over the past five years.The companies that are still in business are also struggling to cope with various challenges in the industry, which led to the collapse of their counterparts.The challenges ranged from lack of raw materials to rising costs of production, which have, over the years, combined to take the shine off an otherwise profitable business.Although the cashew industry has been a major revenue contributor to non-traditional export (NTE) earnings, accounting for 5.35 per cent (GH¢134.61 million) of last year’s earnings, a lobbyist for the Cashew Industry Association of Ghana, Dr Gideon Kofi Agbley, said it had virtually been left to fend for itself.From the availability of cashew nuts to access to credit and inputs for farmers, Dr Agbley said at the national cashew development advocacy forum in Accra that appeals for government-sponsored interventions to help revive the industry were yet to be heeded to, thereby making it difficult for companies and farmers to operate profitably.“What most of the farmers did was that they remained with the old methods of farming because of lack of resources to buy inputs. The processing companies are also collapsing. In fact, so far, only three out of the 13 companies are still operating and that is not good for us,” he said at the event.The event, which was organised by the association in conjunction with the African Cashew Alliance, was to help collate the views of stakeholders and experts into a single document that can be used for advocacy purposes.It was funded by the Business Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC) fund, a non-governmental organisation committed to private sector development.

Consequences on revenues

The collapse of the cashew processors has translated into a drop in the amount of revenues the country gets from the export of cashew nuts and its derivatives on annual basis.Official figures show that earnings from cashew exports reduced by 17.5 per cent in 2014, after falling from US$163.1 million in 2013 to US$134.61 million last year.Although the development is mainly due to a fall in overall exports, Dr Agbley said it had been compounded by the volumes of amounts of processed cashew exports resulting from the collapse of the companies.As a result, he said the country needed to implement measures that will help boost the operations of processing companies while cutting down on the export volumes of raw nuts.He suggested that stakeholders in Ghana continued to dialogue with neigbouring Cote d’Ivoire to rescind its ban on cashew sales to local buyers through its borders.That, he said will help make the nuts available to the processing companies to feed their industries.Cashew production rose to 70,000 tons in July, this year, from 7,000 tons in 2003.Out of the total annual output, more than half is exported in its raw state, leaving the rest for the local processing industry.

Source: http://graphic.com.gh/