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As it is a strong irritant, it should not be confused with edible cashew nut oil. It is dangerous to handle in small-scale processing of the shells, but is itself a raw material with multiple uses. [39] It is used in tropical folk medicine and for anti-termite treatment of timber. [54] Its composition varies depending on how it is processed.
The country is the eighth-largest grower of cashew nut in the world and ranks fourth in Africa. The country provides 20% of Africa's cashew nut and only trails in production of Nigeria, Cote D'Ivoire, and Guinea-Bissau, according to figures released in 2012 by United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). [1]
These raw nuts are exported for processing in Vietnam and India where they can be de-shelled and sold for greater profit. [5] [7] [8] In 2018, extracted cashew nuts from India sold for three times higher than what cashew farmers in the Ivory Coast were paid for raw cashews. [6]
The 6 main cash crops are cashew nuts, coffee, cotton, sisal, tea and tobacco. [5] At one point in its agricultural history, Tanzania was the largest producer of sisal in the world. [6] The agriculture sector faces various challenges and had been the governments top priority to develop to reduce poverty and increase productivity. [7]
To increase the production of indigenous raw nuts, Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation has started Cashew plantations in the State. Corporation has also introduced four value added cashew products in the market. [10] They are regularly signing consignments for more than 6,000 tonnes of raw cashew nut from Guinea-Bissau etc.
The Cashew business in Kollam is based in the eponymous city, which is known as the Cashew Capital of the World. [1] Kollam is the largest processed cashew exporter in the world. As of 2011 there were more than 600 cashew processing units in the city. About 800,000 tonnes of raw cashews are imported to the city for processing every year.
To encourage cashew production, the government has initiated projects and distributes free saplings among farmers. [36] As of 2021, there are 12 factories across the country processing approximately 300 tonnes of cashew nuts each year. According to government officials, Bangladesh imports about 5,000 tonnes of raw cashew nuts. [37]
Production in 2008 was estimated at about 98,938 tons. Exports from Benin reached 116,398 tons in 2008, 15% of which included cashew nuts from other countries, such as Nigeria, Togo, and Burkina Faso—all much smaller producers. Cashew nut exports represent about 8% of total export value, 7% of agricultural GDP, and 3% of the national GDP in 2008.