♔The southern province of Binh Phuoc, dubbed Vietnam’s “cashew capital”, is working towards boosting the popularity of its cashew nuts among global consumers, especially in demanding markets such as the US and the EU. (Photo: VNA) About 170,000 ha of cashew are being grownin the province, mostly in the districts of Phu Rieng, Bu Gia Map, Bu Dang, andDong Phu, which generate 243,000 tonnes each year, according to the provincialDepartment of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The Agro Processing and Market DevelopmentAuthority at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said quality andtaste are strengths of Vietnamese cashew nuts compared to foreign competitors,and those from Binh Phuoc are rich in nutrition and of superior quality.
Huynh The Du from Fulbright University Vietnamsaid the province is struggling to build its own cashew nut brand, as localproducers continue to import low-quality raw cashew nuts from Africa andCambodia for export processing.
Imported raw materials account for 70 percent ofcashew processing, he said, voicing concerns about the limited capacity ofsmall-scale production facilities, which has affected product quality.
Du underlined the need to improve the added-valueof production chains through attracting investment in intensive processing,boosting mass production, and identifying mechanisms to facilitate strongerties between businesses and farmers.
Nguyen Van Hieu, Deputy Director of theprovincial Department of Industry and Trade, said Vietnam’s cashew nut exportsnow fetch around 3.5 billion USD, making it the top foreign currency earneramong agricultural products.
The country needs more than 1 million tonnes ofraw cashew nuts for processing every year. As only some 300,000 tonnes aresourced domestically, the remainder must be imported, with most coming fromWest Africa.
He noted that, in late December, the Binh PhuocPeople’s Committee granted an investment certificate to a Dutch enterpriseinvesting in cashew nut value chain.
Mekong Corporation Europe BV (MCE) from theNetherlands and Vietnam’s An Viet Phat Energy Co. Ltd will invest some 250million USD in the endeavour.
They will develop a cashew nut growing zone of 200,000ha, a cashew nut production plant with a capacity of 168,750 tonnes per year, acashew nut shell oil factory producing 118,125 tonnes per year, and anotherturning out products from cashew nut shell residue.
They are also set to build a cashew nut researchinstitute in Bu Dang district’s Duc Lieu commune.
MCE Director General Nguyen Thanh Tan said the cashewnut value chain in Binh Phuoc will be developed in accordance with Europeanstandards, and all products will be exported to Europe.
He expressed his confidence that with its experienceand capacity, the company will successfully develop a brand for Binh Phuoccashew nuts in the global market./.
VNA
