Meeting with MAMCU in Mtwara: Strengthening Tanzania’s Cashew Sector

On 17 February 2025, International Development Norway (IDN) met with MAMCU (Mtwara and Masasi Cooperative Union), the apex body representing farmer cooperatives (AMCOS) across the Mtwara, Masasi, and Namtumbo districts of Tanzania.

The discussion covered challenges facing the cashew sector at three levels. At the farmer level, key issues include limited financial literacy, poor access to Good Agronomic Practices, a lack of crop diversification, and the absence of financial services during the planting season, which leaves farmers exposed to exploitative middlemen. Proposed responses include financial education, GAP training, companion crops such as millet and cassava, savings group models (VICOBA/VSLA), and youth mentorship to address low youth engagement in the sector.

At processor level, low processing capacity and continued reliance on manual methods remain the main obstacles to Tanzania’s goal of processing 100 per cent of its cashew crop domestically, a target currently met at around 20 per cent. Greater mechanisation was identified as a priority.

At the policy level, overlapping mandates between AMCOS, MAMCU, and the Tanzania Cashewnut Board, all funded through a per-kilogram cess paid by farmers, prompted a proposal to convene a policy roundtable to clarify roles and reduce the burden on producers.

The meeting also highlighted the sector’s broader potential: climate resilience, opportunities for zero-waste processing, and youth-led value addition through products such as cashew wine, spirits, and animal feed.