Cashew industry discusses development strategy through 2020

More than 400 domestic and foreign delegates discussed ways to develop Vietnam’s cashew industry through 2020 at a workshop in the southern province of Binh Phuoc on March 21.

Speakers examined the current production, processing and sales of cashew products and made recommendations to increase production efficiency and growers’ incomes, and sharpen the competitive edge of Vietnamese cashew products in the global market.

They heard growers and processors talk about their difficulties concerning varieties of cashews, capital, technology transfer, sales and the building of brand names, as well as proposals to managers.

“We need financial and technical support from the government and scientists to maintain production and fight new types of insects which have appeared recently because of the unusual weather,” said Nguyen Van Thi, a cashew farmer in Tan Hung commune. “In addition, the government should control market prices to ensure farmers make a profit.”

Scientists put forward proposals for mechanisms and policies to help the cashew industry meet its target of earning US$1 billion from exports this year and maintaining its position as the No1 cashew exporter in the world.

To this end, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan said the industry should apply modern scientific and technological advances to farming, and modernise production lines. He also proposed that the government offer incentives to farmers, because cashew trees are mostly cultivated in the highland and remote areas.

Currently, Vietnam has approximately 400,000ha of cashew, mostly grown in south-eastern, central highland and south-central coastal provinces.

Tags: Vietnam cashew, Vietnam Cashew industry