TOGO – Togo, a key player in the global cashew market, is gearing up for its 2024 cashew sales campaign following a remarkable surge in production.
According to the Interprofessional Council for Cashew in Togo (CIFAT), the country’s cashew production reached 38,880 tons in 2023, marking a significant increase from 22,937 tons in 2019, reflecting a staggering 70% growth.
Komlan Gozan, Chairman of CIFAT, emphasized the need for concerted efforts to enhance processing capabilities, stating, “From 2019 to 2023, on average, 21.28% of the output was processed per year.”
He stressed the importance of ensuring product availability and quality to meet international standards while ensuring fair compensation for farmers and fostering sustainable partnerships within the sector.
CIFAT, formed in 2016, brings together five associations and federations representing stakeholders in the cashew industry, including COPAT, FNCPATOGO, 3A-TOGO, ATTA, and CEFA.
As the 2024 campaign kicks off, the CIFAT disclosed that the edge-of-field price for cashew nuts stands at CFA325 per kilogram.
The announcement was made during the campaign’s official launch in Kara, organized by the Cashew Coordination Committee (CCFA) in collaboration with CIFAT.
Ahead of the launch, multiple interprofessional agreements were signed on March 9, 2023, among the various links in the cashew nut sector, underscoring the commitment to streamline operations and ensure efficiency across the value chain.
Reflecting on the industry’s evolution, Togo witnessed a remarkable increase in cashew production, reaching 33,866 tons in 2022 compared to 16,000 tons in 2016, marking a notable growth of 112%.
Over the past six years, the sector has contributed over CFA76 billion to the economy and generated more than 200,000 jobs. This year, production is anticipated to surpass 40,000 tons.
In efforts to improve traceability and compliance with regulatory standards, CIFAT has implemented practical measures for better nut tracking, aligning with Togo’s cashew sector laws.
During the campaign launch, Bilakimwé FEOU, Director General of Private Sector Development representing the Minister of Trade, urged all sector stakeholders to adhere to interprofessional agreements and existing regulatory frameworks throughout the marketing campaign.
FEOU also announced plans for a monitoring system to track and penalize violators, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting sector concerns and facilitating strategic investments to bolster the cashew industry’s management bodies in 2023 and beyond.
As Togo’s cashew sector continues to flourish, the collaborative efforts of stakeholders are poised to drive sustainable growth, enhance processing capacities, and ensure the sector’s resilience in global markets.
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