<p>The government of Guinea-Bissau wants declared cashew exports to increase from 150,000 to 200,000 tons per year, the country’s Trade Minister said noting that exports should be as close as possible to the country’s total production.“Guinea-Bissau produces more than 250,000 tons per year, but exports only about 150,000 tons. You need to create objective conditions so exports are as transparent and clear as possible,” said Serifo Embaló, cited by Portuguese news agency Lusa.</p> <p>Several players from the cashew sector, the main export crop in Guinea-Bissau, gathered Thursday and Friday in Bissau to discuss strategies to monetize trade in the product.The meeting was organised by the Ministry of Trade and brought together farmers, small traders who buy cashews from nut producers, exporters, banks, the police and government.According to Embaló, the government wants to hear all stakeholders in the sector on the strategies to use so that, next year, the country can export at least 200,000 tons of cashews.</p> <p>In the last cashew marketing year (April to September) over 70,000 tons were exported abroad from neighbouring countries, due to smuggling, said Embaló.According to government figures cashews are the main source of income for more than 80 percent of Guinea’s rural population.</p> <p> </p>