<p>Coast governors are betting on revival of the cashew nut industry to improve livelihoods in the region.</p> <p>The governors said the sector can boost standard of living for 350,000 farmer households in Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Lamu, Taita Taveta and Mombasa counties.</p> <p>The governors pledged to transform the rural Kenyan coastal economy by increasing the crop’s production to over 300,000 metric tonnes worth Sh40 billion annually by 2030.</p> <p>“We will increase cashew nut production by empowering small holder farmers in the region. The move is aimed at reducing poverty and improving the livelihoods of 350,000 farmer households in the region and further transform the rural Kenyan coastal economy by increasing production,” said the governors.</p> <p>The initiative involves equipping smallholder farmers with knowledge and skills required to transition from subsistence farming to semi-commercialisation.</p> <p>Through the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP), the governors led by Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Amason Kingi (Kilifi), Dhadho Godhana (Tana River) and Granton Samboja (Taita Taveta) announced a partnership with Empowering Farmers Foundation (EFF) Chairman, Mahesh Patel to revive the dormant cashew nut industry.</p> <p>“The collaboration seeks to empower small holder farmers by reviving the dormant cashew value chain in the Kenyan Coast region. Dubbed the Koroshi ni Maisha project, the initiative aspires to reduce poverty and improve the livelihoods of farmer households,” the governors said in a statement.</p> <p>The county bosses noted the significant socio-economic disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic adding that the cash crop can boost the region’s economy.</p> <p>“That is why we resolved on the urgent need for the regional Economic Bloc to be strengthened and more efforts made in joint regional programs, resource mobilisation and investments,” they added after receiving a Cashew nut industry revival proposal from the Empowering Farmers Foundation (EFF).</p> <p>Recently, Wilfred Marube, the chief executive officer, Kenya Exports Promotion and Branding Agency, said Coast has a huge export potential for cashewnuts.</p> <p>“In 2019, cashewnuts that were exported from Kenya were worth about Sh140 million to the US, Egypt and Canada,” he said.</p> <p>Africa produces 60 percent of the world’s total raw cashew nuts.</p> <p>Cashew used to be the main sources of livelihood at the coast, however, the sector experienced a steady decline over the last two decades.</p>