<p></p><p>The Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with other stakeholders in the cashew nut industry has embarked on a programme to promote the crop in Kilifi district. The more than 500 farmers will be taught on the proper management and husbandry of cashew orchids and setting a uniform minimum price for their produce. The two-week programme, which will run in all parts of the district, will also include the setting up of marketing groups for the cashew nuts to curb exploitation by middlemen.</p> <p>Kilifi district agricultural officer Jane Kanamu said the ministry has partnered with the Kenya Nut Growers Association and the Nut Processors Association of Kenya together with KARI-Mtwapa in the programme. She said tall the players had agreed to run the programme through barazas at all sub locations in the district so that all the farmers could be reached. </p><p>Speaking to the press in her office on Monday morning, Kanamu said that despite efforts by the ministry to set up the minimal price for the cashew produce during the previous season, the farmers suffered exploitation from middle men who were buying the nuts for as little as Ksh. 20 instead of the Ksh. 45 per kilo, as set by the ministry. </p><p>She said that the ministry could not effectively enforce the price because the farmers were selling their produce as individuals which made it easy for middle men to exploit them to their desired prices. "We want to educate the farmers on how to take care of their orchids and then make sure that with the help of the ministry of cooperative developments they have formed marketing groups and come up with a market day specifically for the cashew nuts," said Kanamu </p><p>Kanamu expressed her expectation that the programme would be a success in marketing the cashew nut as the main cash crop in coast province. She accused farmers for not using the right agronomic practices in the management of their orchids which has resulted in a decline in the yields. However, Kanamu said that the success of the programme shall only be realized when the farmers agree to farm the marketing groups and make sure that they are run in an accountable manner. She said that the prices of the cashew produce are expected to rise this season. </p><p> </p><br><p></p>