The Cashewnut Board of Tanzania (CBT) has warned cashew processors against violating procedures governing the purchase of raw cashew nuts in the primary market, saying action will be taken against those who breach the regulations, as such practices undermine farmers’ interests and disrupt the cashew marketing system. As part of its enforcement measures, CBT has already taken action against one company by revoking its permit to purchase cashews, after the company was accused of collecting, processing and selling farmers’ cashews without paying them on time. CBT Director General Francis Alfred said some companies have been collecting cashews from farmers without making timely payments, contrary to primary market regulations that require buyers to pay for the cashews and applicable levies before taking possession of the produce. In a special interview, Alfred said some processors have been using their influence with leaders of Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies (AMCOS) to obtain cashews through informal arrangements, potentially resulting in delayed payments to farmers. “Some companies do not follow the procedures. They collect farmers’ cashews and then tell them they will pay later, while the primary market regulations clearly state that you cannot take farmers’ cashews without paying for them,” he said. Alfred said one company, which he did not name, had been barred from purchasing at buying centres after it was found to have collected farmers’ cashews, processed and sold them without paying the farmers. He emphasised that CBT has not changed the primary market system but is continuing to enforce regulations established by the Government to ensure transparency in cashew trading and protection of farmers’ interests. Processors Required to Use Registered Agents CBT has also begun strengthening oversight of agents involved in cashew purchasing, stressing that all such agents must be registered and officially recognised by the Board. “For those who wish to use agents to purchase cashews, we require those agents to be registered with the Cashewnut Board of Tanzania. We will not allow a processor to use an unregistered agent,” Alfred said. He explained that the use of unregistered agents makes it difficult to distinguish legitimate agents from informal middlemen, locally known as kangomba, and other buyers, potentially creating confusion at purchasing centres. CBT to Strengthen Control of Cashew Shipments CBT also plans to strengthen the monitoring of cashew shipments before they leave their respective districts by deploying officers at designated verification points. According to Alfred, the officers will be responsible for verifying the quantity of cashews being transported and the validity of the relevant permits before shipments are allowed to proceed. The measure is intended to curb levy evasion and ensure that the quantity of cashews transported corresponds with the quantities authorised under issued permits. TACP Calls for Measures to Expand Domestic Processing Meanwhile, the Tanzania Association of Cashew Processors (TACP) has urged the Government to introduce additional measures to support the growth of the domestic cashew processing sector, which it says continues to face challenges that constrain expansion. TACP Chairman Sosthenes Mayoma said the sector aims to increase employment from approximately 14,000 jobs currently to 50,000 by 2030. Mayoma said achieving this target would require the Government to support processors by removing constraints affecting the industry and encouraging greater investment in domestic cashew processing. Farida Juma, a cashew processor from Newala, said enabling small-scale processors to access modern technology and equipment would help improve production efficiency and competitiveness. She identified limited access to technology and modern equipment as among the major challenges facing the processing sector, adding that training and access to better processing tools could significantly improve productivity. Tanzania’s cashew processing sector is estimated to have the potential to create more than 100,000 jobs, particularly for women and young people, if investment increases and a more supportive business environment is established.