<p></p><p>Kilindi District Council has come up with a grand plan to promote cashew nut farming in the district as one of its alternative cash crops in an effort to break dependence on maize and beans. <br></p> <p>District Executive Director (DED), Ms Mwijina Lipinga told The Citizen in a recent interview that maize and beans have been used as both food and commercial crops, thus affecting authority’s endeavors to eliminate food shortages. <br></p> <p>She said studies conducted so far confirm the feasibility of cashew nut farming in the district. This forced authorities in the district to initiate cashew nut farming for selected farmers this financial year, with plans to expand the same as time goes. Elaborating on the cashew nut development strategy, the District Agricultural and Irrigation Officer, Gordian Gwiyago said Kilindi has bought 6,500 improved cashew nut seedlings for distribution to farmers. He said 6000 improved seedlings have already been distributed to farmers and would be planted in an area totaling 200 acres. <br></p> <p>The aim is to plant cashew nut trees on a 500-acre area. It has set aside Sh10.5 million for breeding of improved cashew nut seedlings that would be distributed to farmers. <br></p> <p>According him, the decision to introduce cashew nuts was based on the fact that the crop has been grown successfully in other coastal areas such as Lindi, Mtwara and the Coast Region. The district is also working on a strategy to develop sesame farming and a total of 120 acres have been planted with the crop.<br></p><p></p>