<p></p><p>The Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) has given a cashew apple processing machine to the Gambia Cashew Farmers Association through the association’s enterprise called ‘Baloleh business enterprise’. <br></p> <p>The machine, hand over on Friday at the community development office in Brikama, was provided in collaboration with the Enhancement Integrated Framework (EIF) project of the Ministry of Trade. <br></p> <p>Officials said the machine was manufactured in The Gambia, and it can process both cashew and vegetables.It can process 25 kilos per hour. <br></p> <p>The acting Regional Director of Agriculture for West Coast Region, Isatou Jarju-Camara, said cashew processing is one of the steps that needed to be taken towards the realisation of the Vision 2016 food self-sufficiency goal. <br></p> <p>She said the machine will go a long way in helping to address post-harvest loses during the cashew season.A lot of cashew apples are wasted during harvest time, due to inadequate processing machine in the country. <br></p> <p>Mrs Jarju-Camara hailed GIEPA and EIF for their timely intervention, while calling on cashew farmers to be business-minded and put the machine into good use. <br></p> <p>The president of cashew farmers, Alieu B.A. Faye, said the machine will help them save labour and time, as well as improve their income earning. <br></p> <p>He applauded the donors and assured all that the machine will be used wisely. <br></p> <p>Mariama Fatajo, director of Business and Export Development at GIEPA, said the cashew apple has been wasting over the years in the country due to lack of processing facilities. <br></p> <p>This is why GIEPA deemed it necessary to partner with EIF to give support to the cashew farmers in the country, she said. <br></p> <p>A representative of the EIF project, Modou Touray, said the project has been supporting the cashew farmers in areas like training on good agricultural practices. <br></p> <p>Mr Touray urged the cashew farmers to maintain the machine as a business enterprise.<br></p><p></p>