As the world's leading producer of cashew nuts, Côte d'Ivoire also intends to take up the challenge of processing. The State is therefore multiplying initiatives, including the International Exhibition of Cashew Processing Equipment and Technologies (Sietta). After the 4th edition held from April 6 to 8, 2023, the Director General of the Cotton and Cashew Council, Adama Coulibaly, in this interview given to us on April 12, 2023 in his offices, in Plateau, takes stock of the transformation of the cashew nut and shells the advantages of the Sietta. The Sietta, which was placed on the baptismal font in 2014, was in its 4th edition from April 6 to 8. What conclusions can you draw from the 2023 edition? The International Exhibition of Cashew Processing Equipment and Technologies ( Sietta ) was born in 2014. It was born from the government's desire to transform local cashew production. The Sietta is a platform for exhibition, demonstration, sale, innovation in processing and exchanges between professionals in the cashew sector which is held every two years. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this event could not take place in 2020. This explains why the 4thedition was organized this year from 6 to 8 April. This edition recorded more than 13,000 participants (exhibitors and visitors) from 18 countries from all continents. 22 equipment manufacturers including 11 national and 11 international companies exhibited at this show. Can we say that the different Sietta have contributed to the increase in processing? The Siettais part of a global strategy to support local cashew processing. The four editions of Sietta have given local processors access to high quality technologies. All of which has made it possible to improve, in a substantial way, the performance of the factories and thus contribute to the increase in the rate of local transformation. The Sietta made it possible to activate at least three levers which boosted the conversion rate. As a showcase of technological innovations, the Sietta serves to promote high quality equipment and advanced technologies from Vietnam, India etc. We have therefore witnessed a renewal and modernization of equipment. These three editions of the Sietta have allowed the cashew industry to gradually move from manual and then semi-automatic production lines to fully automated lines. At the labor level, the new technologies induced by the Sietta have greatly contributed to reducing manual activity and the hardship of this manual work in the processing units. By moving from mechanical lines to automated lines, production costs have been reduced while optimizing yield in terms of almond production. The Sietta 2023 carried a strategic project. The aim is to take Côte d'Ivoire from being an importer to a designer of equipment, spare parts and maintenance services for local industry. For the Cotton and Cashew Council, it is a question of encouraging the emergence of local equipment manufacturers and the availability of spare parts in order to reduce production costs and thus facilitate the installation of new investors. This objective has been achieved. Côte d'Ivoire is thus taking another step in cashew processing. To this end, the Cotton and Cashew Council strongly supported the establishment of the Platform of Equipment Manufacturers for the Processing of Agricultural Products in Côte d'Ivoire (Petrapaci). Sietta 2023 Sietta 2023 What was special about the Sietta 2023? Sietta 2023 was an opportunity for local equipment manufacturers to show their know-how by offering for the exhibition a complete cashew processing line made in Côte d'Ivoire. Now thefirst coupling of a cashew processing plant, entirely assembled by national professionals, is available. This plant is the result of a synergy of actions of the various Ivorian equipment manufacturers formed. This complete line of transformation is for us, a source of pride because for a long time, we had for only recourse in the transformation that the technologies of the countries of South-East Asia. Today, with a group of companies put together, the result is satisfactory. This initiative was born out of the partnership between the Cotton and Cashew Council, through the Cashew Value Chain Competitiveness Promotion Project (PPCA) and the World Bank. This year's theme is: "Cashew Industry's Contribution to Resilienceof African countries in the face of global economic challengesâ€. Can you answer this problem, taking into account the specific case of Côte d'Ivoire? Côte d'Ivoire has been the world leader in the production of raw cashew nuts since 2016, with a record figure of more than one million tonnes at the end of the marketing campaign in 2022. With an average rate of 6 % growth in production per year, cashew is one of the main sources of income for rural populations in the northern area of ​​Côte d'Ivoire. To address the issue of the economic resilience of Côte d'Ivoire in relation to the cashew industry, it is worth noting that the cashew industry in Côte d'Ivoire is booming. Already, production supports around 400,000 families. Local processing recorded its best performance since 2020, i.e. at the heart of the Covid-19 crisis. This is a sign that despite the impacts of the pandemic on the global cashew ecosystem, the cashew industry in Côte d'Ivoire has continued to grow. Moreover, it is in 2021 that Côte d'Ivoire rose to the rank of 3rdexporter of cashew kernels in the world, behind Vietnam and India. When the industry develops, as is the case with the cashew nut, jobs are created, taxes are paid to the State and safe revenues are paid to the suppliers of the raw material, in this case the producers. . In 2022, we counted approximately 15,000 jobs created in the processing sector, mainly in the production regions. We thus have a kind of circular economy which constitutes a lever for the resilience of the State in the face of multifaceted crises. What is the cashew processing rate in Côte d'Ivoire? Can we know the number of processing units, the installed capacity in 2023? In 2022, 224,128 tonnes of nuts were processed locally compared to 68,515 tonnes in 2018, i.e. 3.27 times more. Today, the local transformation rate is around 22% compared to 10% in 2018. From 15 industrial units in 2018, we are now at 34 operational units and at least ten under construction. In terms of installed capacity in 2023, we are at 350,000 tons per year. All of this should make it possible to accelerate transformation and bring the transformation rate to at least 35% by the end of 2023 . What are the challenges for the industry to increase this rate? Côte d'Ivoire aims to raise the local processing rate to 50% by 2025. The major transformation challenge remains to move Côte d'Ivoire from the status of first producer and exporter of raw nuts to a producing country and almond exporter. One of the obstacles to accelerating the development of the industrial fabric, in general, is the availability of industrial lots fitted out with amenities, in particular good quality electricity, as well as the financing of the raw material. We can also cite the questions of storage capacity which make it possible to supply the processing units throughout the year. Another challenge, and not the least, is the availability of quality labour. Including the ability of investors themselves to understand the difficulties of the sector and to set up a viable business. The industrial adventure has its requirements. You have to prepare for it, otherwise the adventure can come to an end. YAKRO CASHEW FACTORY-SCHOOL YAKRO CASHEW FACTORY-SCHOOL What does the first producing country gain by increasing the processing of its product? According to statistics, production represents only 20% of the cashew value chain against 40% for processing and 40% for distribution. This means that it is in processing and distribution that there are significant spinoffs in this sector. So we have to go for transformation. In addition, it is important to note that there are a hundred by-products resulting from the transformation. These products are used in particular in baking, cosmetics, beverages and cooking. We have an interest in processing to derive dividends from our strong production. By successfully transforming, we will boost our economy. What are the different government initiatives to increase the cashew nut processing rate in Côte d'Ivoire? To accelerate the transformation, the government has put in place a specific facilitation mechanism to support investors in the cashew sector. To achieve the significant rate of 50% local processing, the key actions undertaken by the government and implemented by the Cotton and Cashew Council are multiple. These include the installation of the Cashew Innovation and Technology Center (Cita) in Yamoussoukro. This center is a technological center that supports candidates for investment in the cashew industry in terms of preparatory studies, factory sizing, staff training, etc. There is also the development of three agro-industrial zones of 15 to 25 hectares dedicated to cashew processing in the heart of the production zones in Korhogo, Bondoukou and Séguéla. These industrial parks offer all the conveniences that allow an industrialist to be operational very quickly as soon as his project is validated. The dedicated industrial zones of Korhogo and Bondoukou are already ready to welcome the first applicants for industrial lots. In addition, there are subsidies to processors to encourage local processing. Finally, in terms of storage capacity, beyond the 7,500 m² warehouses planned for each of the agro-industrial zones dedicated to cashew, a logistics center with more than 21,000 m² of warehouses is being developed in Yamoussoukro industrial zone to address issues of storage, flow and transit of raw nuts in the region.