The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Serigne Guèye Diop chaired a special CRD dedicated to the marketing of cashew nuts in Ziguinchor. This meeting in the presence of different players in the sector and local and administrative authorities served as a framework to showcase the achievements achieved in recent years, the constraints and take up the challenges for better development of the sector.
After a presentation of the results obtained thanks to the July 2017 measure “banning the export of cashews by land”, the minister underlined the importance of the cashew sector for the economy of the natural region of Casamance which, according to him, “represents, alone, more than 95%” of national cashew production. The results recorded have enabled a substantial increase in cashew exports. From 31,871 t in 2018, they increased to 148,443 t in 2023, an increase in relative value of 366%, according to Serigne Guèye Diop. This is favored by better organization of players in the cashew sector, with the establishment of the Senegal cashew interprofessional organization (ICAS) since August 28, 2021.
These results, informs the Minister of Industry and Commerce, have enabled the creation of thousands of jobs and significant income generated for the benefit of young people and women. Without forgetting the availability of reliable data, particularly those related to exports, for better development of our economic and social development policies.
Challenges and recommendations
Despite these results, the cashew sector is not valued, especially with regard to the processing of the product. “The development of semi-industrial and industrial processing of cashew nuts and its derived products is a guarantee of a lever for creating added value for the local economy, but also of creating sustainable jobs for young people and women of our country” affirms Minister Diop. However, the processing of cashew nuts still remains very marginal. This only represents “less than 3% of our local production”, he stressed.
With a view to strengthening the industrial valorization of the cashew nut and its derived products, the Ministry of Industry and Trade intends, in accordance with the new framework for economic and social development of Senegal, namely “the Project for a Senegal sovereign, just and prosperous”, promote the development of the industrial fabric based on the transformation of local production and the promotion of national industrial champions.
According to the minister, the government of President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye plans to promote structured and sustainable industrialization of the Senegalese economy based on the wealth of each of the eight major economic development poles already identified. And as part of the Senegal Industrial Acceleration Plan (PAIS), the authorities intend to reposition Senegal on the global cashew market, no longer as a supplier of raw nuts, but rather of cashew products and its valued derivatives, according to the minister.
Serigne Guèye Diop announces that his teams are working on “the return of cashew exports by sea from the port of Ziguinchor, starting with this 2024 cashew marketing campaign”.
His department intends to support the resolutions of the regional development committee held a few days ago in Ziguinchor between the governor and the stakeholders. Three of these resolutions caught the attention of the minister: the granting by ANAM of four authorizations allowing stakeholders to have sufficient vessels in order to resolve the loading capacity problem so criticized by exporters. The operationalization of the services of the Customs Administration as well as the Gaindé computer system, in order to facilitate all procedures relating to customs clearance. The upgrade of the port of Ziguinchor with a view to ensuring the smooth running of the cashew marketing campaign for 2024, following the reception of the rehabilitation work.
With seneweb.com
