Institute of Agricultural Research for Development Promotes Cultivation.
The Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD, recently donated tons of cashew nut seedlings to the population of Bibiani in the North Region of Cameroon. Experts believe that the climate of the Northern Regions highly favours the its growth. The donation of cashew nut seeds according to specialists, is to increase its production in the area. This falls in line with the new national cashew promotion and development strategy.
Experts of the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), are of the opinion that, cashew nuts will become the next income generating cash crop in the region after cotton. Specialists of the institution stands highly on the ground that, though cashew nut is not well known as cash crop in Cameroon, it can increase the country’s income.
It has been the desire of the Cameroon government to attend a yearly production of over 50.000 tons of cashew nuts by the year 2025. The hopes of the government is that, by that year, producers of cashew nut, who would have previously benefited from various supports like the provision of improved seeds and the professionalization of seeds production units, will be able to sell at least 8.000 tons quality products on the international market.
The wish of the government is to be visible on the international cashew nut market by the year 2023. In February, 2020, Gabriel Mbairobe, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, pointed out that, Cameroon’s ambition, in the framework of its national strategy for the promotion and the development of cashew sector, is to reach a production of 50.000 tons by the year 2025.
The new national cashew promotion and development strategy project has as goal to increase the production and distribution of about 5 million quality cashwer seedlings within the period of five years in order to promote the setting up of additional 50.000 hectares of cashew plantation in the entire territory. IRAD personals mention.
By Takang Bisong