<p></p><p>The Gambia Investment and Promotion Agency (GIEPA), in partnership with the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) project of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment recently held a three-day training for cashew farmers on cashew apple- processing and preservation. The training that brought together 15 farmers from North Bank and West Coast Regions was held in Kerewan, in the North Bank Region (NBR).</p> <p>Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mariama Fatajo, the director of Business Export and Development at GIEPA underscored the significance of building the capacities of producers and processors on quality standard and value-addition. She noted that the mandate of GIEPA is to promote investment, promotion and facilitation, business and export development and enterprise support development. Madam Fatajo said the need for building the capacities of farmers is high. As a result, he said, GIEPA and EIF attached great importance to it. Generally, she added, it is evident that large quantities of cashew apple are being wasted during cashew season, as most attention is given to nuts than the apple. “Cashew apple would increase income and boost cashew production,” she said. </p><p>The director of Business Export and Development at GIEPA pointed out that there is high potential of market demand and then called on the WFP and Mother Nutrition Programme to help in promoting marketing, noting that it would increase and promote nutritional uptake from cashew apple products. Cashew apple processing, she added, would contribute to addressing malnutrition among children. Madam Fatajo thanked EIF for their support and cooperation, noting that GIEPA would support two businesses in NBR and WCR in the form of equipment, business planning and marketing of their business. </p><p>For his part, Alpha Ousman Jallow, the executive secretary of Cashew Alliance Gambia Apex Organisations, stated that the training would help farmers to diversify the processing of cashew apple. He thus described the involvement of GIEPA as crucial, noting that it would help to explore the marketing of products in and outside of the country. Jallow hailed the efforts of the Ministry of Trade and EIF, with support from International Trade Centre for mobilising resources in enhancing the capacities of producers and processors, saying the skills would contribute to enhance value-addition to products. </p><p>The executive secretary of Cashew Alliance Gambia Apex Organizations acknowledged that cashew is under- exploited, due to low capacity to process. He thus assured that they would continue to work with other institutions to enhance effective transfer of skills on apple processing technologies at all levels. Efforts are being put in place to support farmers with micro-finance to enhance production and marketing. Cashew sub- sectors are engaging all relevant institutions to support farmers towards promoting cashew production on a larger scale. </p><p>The Project Consultant TEFA Global Solution, Awa Marie Gomez noted that building capacity on cashew apple processing and preservation technologies would increase nutritional development of families income, and reduce post harvest loss on cashew. </p><p>Promotion of innovation technology of cashew apple processing, she added, would obviously enhance sustainable livelihood and empower farmers to increase production. She affirmed that TEFA Global Solution is committed to food safety, standards and hygiene, to enable processors to meet standards and enhance marketing and the health status of consumers. </p> <p>Gomez further thanked Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) and GIEPA for building partnership with TEFA in the transfer of skills and knowledge on cashew apple processing technologies. She then called on GIEPA and development partners to support cashew farmers associations in promoting business growth. For his part, Sheriff Manneh of the National Auditor Cashew Farmer Federation said the association is fully committed to encourage farmers to go for cashew production, noting that the association would distribute 300,000 cashew seedlings for farmers in North Bank, Central River and Upper River Regions, respectively. “The planting of cashew would contribute to restoring forest cover and enhance economic growth. The technologies would reduce wastage on cashew apple and empower farmers to provide some of the finished products to poultry and livestock,” he hinted. </p><p>According to him, the objective is to expand cashew production across other parts of the country and one of the key criteria for membership is to be a cashew farmer. Dilating on training of trainers, he said, it would help farmers to get food and income. </p><p>Lamin Jobe of Food Technology Service at the Department of Agriculture said the training would reduce post harvest loss of agro products and increase marketing. He informed the gathering that his office attaches great importance to align agro-products with quality assurance to meet international trade standards. Commenting on cashew apple processing technologies, he said, it would increase food security, nutritional development and enhances value-chain addition and income.</p> <p> </p><br><p></p>