The value of cashew fruit has not been fully exploited Besides deep processing and product diversification, the cashew industry needs to research processing technology to fully exploit the value of cashew nuts, from kernels to fruit flesh. Paradoxes of the cashew industry Binh Phuoc is known as the cashew capital of Vietnam with an area of ​​more than 152,000 hectares and an output of 170,000 tons/year, accounting for nearly 50% of the country's cashew area and output. Of which, the cashew growing area of ​​ethnic minorities in Binh Phuoc is about 50,000 hectares. Binh Phuoc's cashew productivity is high due to suitable natural conditions. In particular, this province has introduced high-yield cashew varieties, suitable for the ecological sub-region, and applied new technical advances in intensive farming to help cashew trees grow. , well developement. Binh Phuoc has not yet exploited the value of the condition Ms. Tran Tuyet Minh, Vice Chairman of Binh Phuoc Provincial People's Committee and representatives of the Vietnam Cashew Association visited booths introducing cashew processing technology at a recent conference. Photo: Tran Trung. Cashew processing is a key industry and strength of Binh Phuoc, contributing 27 - 45% of the province's total export turnover each year. In 2022, Binh Phuoc's export turnover of cashew products will reach 1.045 billion USD. Binh Phuoc's processed cashew products are currently exported to more than 50 countries. The cashew processing industry has contributed to a strong transformation of the agricultural production structure towards modernity and large commodity production. In addition to processing cashew kernels for export, thanks to mastering technology, recently, many businesses in Binh Phuoc have also gradually switched to deep processing to diversify products and serve many consumers. The whole province currently has 283 cashew kernel deep processing facilities with 35 products, rich and diverse designs, consumed on domestic and international markets such as honey cashews, roasted cashews with garlic and chili, roasted salted cashews, wasabi cashews, cheese cashews, coconut milk roasted cashews... These products are rated OCOP 4 stars, 5 stars. Binh Phuoc is also the only locality in the country recognized for geographical indication protection for cashew nuts. Currently, the entire province has 9 businesses granted certificates of rights to use the geographical indication "Binh Phuoc Cashew". This is a tool to help businesses increase product value, expand markets, and increase accessibility. demanding markets, increasing competitiveness in the world market, while ensuring sustainable development. Binh Phuoc has not yet exploited the value of the condition One of the factors that helps Binh Phuoc cashew industry affirm its position is the gathering of many businesses with modern technology. Photo: Tran Trung. “One of the factors leading to the success of Binh Phuoc cashew industry today is modern processing technology, machinery and equipment, helping to increase productivity, save raw materials, fuel and materials. Reduce costs, meet international customer requirements. Thanks to continuously innovated technology lines, cashew processing facilities have completed a system of criteria to be certified with international food safety standards such as BRC, ISO 22000, HACCP... The application Using science and technology helps cashew processing businesses increase product value, increase profits and contribute to increased budget revenue. This is a lever to help Binh Phuoc's cashew processing industry develop, contributing to promoting exports," affirmed Ms. Tran Tuyet Minh, Vice Chairman of Binh Phuoc Provincial People's Committee. Also according to Ms. Minh, despite many achievements, Binh Phuoc's cashew industry still has some limitations such as: Processed products are not diverse, mainly in raw form, so the added value is still low and competitiveness. Pictures of some products are poor; Linkage and cooperation for development along the value chain are still weak; Geographical indications, brand development, brand protection, and international intellectual property for cashew trees have not yet been implemented much; Cultivation techniques and cashew seed transfer still have certain limitations... Sharing about the challenges in developing Binh Phuoc cashew industry, Mr. Bach Khanh Nhut - Vice Chairman of Vietnam Cashew Association said that after more than 40 years of establishment and development, Vietnam's cashew industry has made great strides: From The place of tinkering and learning has become a country that masters technology and is the world leader in cashew kernel exports, accounting for more than 75% of the world's cashew kernel exports. In that development process, Binh Phuoc cashew industry plays a very important and leading role, making Binh Phuoc the capital of Vietnam's cashew industry. Binh Phuoc has not yet exploited the value of the condition Binh Phuoc cashew nuts in particular and Vietnam in general are increasingly moving towards deep processing and product diversification. Photo: Tran Trung. However, there is a paradox going on in Binh Phuoc: although cashew nuts harvested in Binh Phuoc have affirmed their quality with a special delicious taste, a geographical indication for Binh Phuoc cashews has been established. In Binh Phuoc, there are also a large number of processing factories..., but in recent years, the area and output of raw cashew nuts harvested in Binh Phuoc have tended to decrease significantly. "We have discussed and implemented many causes and solutions, but it is certain that, in order for the Binh Phuoc cashew industry to develop sustainably and promote the strengths of geographical indications and the Binh Phuoc Cashew brand, it must be overcome. This paradox", Mr. Nhut stated his opinion. "Another paradox taking place in Vietnam's cashew industry is that the amount of cashew kernels imported into Vietnam to do a few extra steps and then exported is increasing rapidly. This is a consequence of allowing the import of cashew kernels into Vietnam. without applying measures to protect the domestic cashew processing industry. The fundamental, strategic solution for the cashew industry to develop sustainably is to invest and shift strongly to deep processing with diverse products, meeting the different needs and tastes of end consumers. ", Mr. Bach Khanh Nhut pondered. Still wasting value from cashew nuts According to Mr. Tran Cong Khanh, Director of the Cashew Research and Development Center (Southern Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology), Binh Phuoc cashew industry is facing many difficulties and limitations such as: Low productivity; poor competitiveness, unstable prices; Unusual weather developments lead to people being less interested in investing in intensive farming to increase productivity; Cashew production is fragmented, distributed mainly in mountainous and remote areas, where infrastructure is weak, increasing production costs and product prices; Linking to develop new raw material areas only stops at cooperative groups and cooperatives; not really thoroughly applying scientific and technical achievements... Binh Phuoc has not yet exploited the value of the condition Despite many achievements, Binh Phuoc's cashew industry still has many limitations and has not yet reached its full potential. Photo: Tran Trung. To overcome the above limitations, Binh Phuoc cashew industry needs to focus on transferring science and technology into production, with priority given to a number of areas such as production and quality inspection of seeds, fertilizers, and plant protection; bringing biotechnology and good agricultural practice production processes into production; Pay more attention to the preservation and deep processing of products... “In particular, it is necessary to apply models of applying high technology, biotechnology, organic agricultural production, green and clean agriculture in cultivation with proven effectiveness; Promote the application of safe production, meeting VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards; synchronously implement seed solutions; farming techniques, investment in intensive farming to ensure productivity and quality of agricultural raw materials," Mr. Tran Cong Khanh emphasized. Regarding the potential of products processed from Binh Phuoc cashew fruit in the direction of product diversification, Master Duong Thi Ngoc Diep (in charge of the Department of Chemical and Food Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry) said that , cashew fruit is a by-product of the cashew processing industry that brings high nutritional value, especially vitamin C, which is 5 - 10 times higher than citrus. However, this source of raw materials has not been fully utilized. According to Ms. Diep, previous studies were generally individual about each processing process of cashew products. Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive research process with complete parameters as well as techniques for preserving and processing cashew meat. Utilizing and diversifying products from cashew nuts is necessary to fully exploit the value of cashew nuts and avoid waste. Binh Phuoc has not yet exploited the value of the condition Applying technological advances to production is one of the fundamental solutions the cashew industry needs to focus on implementing immediately. Photo: Tran Trung. “It is necessary to apply new technologies to produce and build production models of value-added products, contributing to improving the value of use and diversifying products from cashew meat and cashew nuts in particular. people in general. Thereby reducing environmental pollution, promoting the development of the food industry and aiming for sustainable development of Binh Phuoc's agricultural sector," Master Diep emphasized. The policy of cashew growing countries in Africa is to develop the cashew processing industry and gradually reduce raw cashew exports. Therefore, they offer many incentives and support to attract investment in cashew processing factories. At the same time, with raw cashew exports, they regulate and strictly monitor the minimum export price; impose high export taxes. But for exported cashew kernels, they exempt taxes. Meanwhile, both raw cashew nuts and cashew nuts when imported into Vietnam for processing and export are exempted from tax by Vietnam. This is a sad situation. The Government, ministries and branches need to look at it multi-dimensionally and objectively. important to help businesses overcome difficulties and continue to position Vietnamese cashew nuts in the international arena," Mr. Bach Khanh Nhut emphasized. Tran Trung Source: Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper