Cashew Infrastructure Development Project (CIDP)

GOAL

To contribute to economic growth, improved livelihoods and food security through improved cashew production & processing.

LOCATION

10 districts of Western Province

DURATION-

2018

-

2021

FARMERS

60,000

VALUE CHAINS

Cashew

PARTNERS

ETC Group (ETG), African Development Bank (AfDB)

FUNDING

USD 10,822,600

Cashew Infrastructure Development Project (CIDP)

Over the span of two years (2019 and 2020), ETG was contracted to oversee several key aspects of the AfDB funded Cashew Infrastructure Development Project, focusing on the following thematic areas: (i) Sensitization of communities, (ii) Rehabilitation of existing cashew plantations, (iii) Re-establishment of canopy coverage in existing cashew plantations through top working, (iv) Replanting of bare areas within existing aged cashew plantations, and (v) Facilitation of the establishment of new plantations. EFF served as ETG's implementation partner and concentrated on community sensitization, emphasizing the project's objectives, implementation strategies, and ultimate benefits. A total of 1,500 community engagement meetings were conducted, engaging almost 50,000 beneficiaries.

The rehabilitation of old cashew plantations involved the spraying of trees to control disease and insect pests. Close to half a million trees were treated, covering an estimated area of 4,849 hectares. Replanting and gap filling within old cashew plantations encompassed over 7,000 hectares and an additional 43,000 hectares, achieved through the production and distribution of cashew seedlings to beneficiaries. Over the two-year period, a total of 5,330,245 seedlings were distributed for this purpose, as well as for establishing new plantations. EFF facilitated this by procuring 50 metric tons of certified poly-clonal cashew nut variety from Tanzania through a bilateral transaction between the Governments of Tanzania and Zambia.

EFF utilized a community-based nursery approach to optimize the success of seedling transplanting and to build the capacity of local farming communities. This involved establishing 510 community-based nurseries, each producing between 5,000 to 10,000 seedlings, and training and recruiting 1,225 nursery operators, thereby creating short-term employment opportunities in project districts. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the project saw high levels of participation from youth and women during its implementation period.

Agricultural Productivity: Enhance agricultural productivity through sustainable and climate-smart practices, improved access to quality seeds, fertilisers, and modern technologies, and training for small-scale farmers. b. Irrigation and Water Management: Promote water conservation techniques, efficient irrigation systems, and integrated water resource management to ensure a reliable water supply for agriculture. c. Diversification: Encourage crop diversification to enhance food availability and household nutrition by promoting the cultivation of smart food crops and high-value crops for increased income generation. d. Storage and Distribution: Strengthen post-harvest management and improve storage infrastructure to reduce household food losses; and promote efficient aggregation systems for improved inputs distribution and access to markets. e. Market Linkages & Financial Services: Support the establishment or farmer cooperatives/ organisations for effective produce aggregation and market linkages, and provide technical assistance to enable small-scale producers to access domestic and international markets and financial services, fostering income generation and economic growth. f. Skills Training and Capacity Building: Facilitate agronomic training, entrepreneurship development, and business management skills to enhance the capacity of smallholder farmers and communities to generate sustainable incomes.
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