Cashew firms asked to make up output fall with product quality

Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)

HCM City (VNA) – The Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas) has asked its members to pay greater attention to improving the quality of cashew to raise its value amidst slumped production. 

Vietnam has suffered a sharp fall in both cashew productivity and output in 2017 crop due to abnormal weather conditions, Dang Hoang Giang, Vinacas Vice President and General Secretary said at a conference on July 12 in Ho Chi Minh City to review the sector’s performance in the first half of this year.

He noted that cashew productivity of farms in high hills reached only 20 percent of that in 2016, while the yield of farms owned by experienced farmers was only 50 percent, with the quality of cashew seriously affected. 

Vinacas has asked for authorized agencies’ support in seeking economic and technology measures to boost the growth of cashew trees for better crops in 2018, as well as ways to detect diseases and insect risks and the research for better cashew varieties that are more resilient to extreme weather conditions.

However, Giang said that cashew price this year hit a record at about 50,000 VND per kilo of dried cashew nut compared to 38,000 VND in 2016. The price is expected to continue rising in the rest of the year, he added.

According to Vinacas, this year, the cashew sector targets an export volume of 320,000 tonnes of cashew nuts, a drop of 9.14 percent year on year and a revenue of 3.3 billion USD.

The association also suggested that enterprises ensure cashew materials for export, while applying advanced technology, foster their connection in production and expand market for their products.