‘Zambia must be top cashew nuts exporter’
I WANT Zambia to unleash its potential and become one of the continent’s top exporters of cashew nuts and this is the reason my administration is prioritising the growth of the fruit in Western Province, President Edgar Lungu has said.
Posting on his Facebook page yesterday, President Lungu noted that a thriving cashew nut industry will transform the economy of Western Province as well as the national economy.
He said this would lead to massive employment creation and improvement of livelihoods for the youth and all participants in the cashew nut value chain.
He said due to the high prices of cashew nuts on the international market, the growth of the cashew nut industry in Western province shall accelerate economic diversification and contribute significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“In view of the above, I wish to urge all farmers in Western Province and you, all my fellow countrymen and women, to remember that regardless of the challenges, let us keep an unwavering faith in the fact that we shall succeed in growing the cashew nut industry.
“This will create massive jobs, diversifying our economy, as well as
Due to the high prices of cashew nuts on the international market, the growth of the cashew nut industry in Western province shall accelerate economic diversification.
achieving inclusive socio- economic development for all those participating in the cashew value chain. As you may already be aware, at full capacity, the over US$55 million-cashew nut project which we launched in 2015 in Western Province shall benefit a total of 60,000 targeted beneficiaries in the province,” President Lungu said.
He said by so doing, his Government, through the cashew nut industry, shall succeed in putting more money in the pockets of people in Western Province, sustainably.
“As President of the Republic of Zambia, I strongly believe that promoting the growth of the cashew nut industry is one of the effective interventions that we must implement in order to diversify the province’s and national economy, support alternative sources of livelihoods at household level while undertaking effectively climate change mitigation and adaption measures,” Mr Lungu said.