1. Cashew Value Chain Competitive Enhancement Project: in the Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Senegal International Relief & Development May 23 rd, 2011

2. Cashew is Business USDA funded, monetized 4500 metric tons of soybean oil and generated approximately $3.7 million in program income A highly desirable commodity, which is not locally produced, US soy oil has been well received in the local markets Local production of vegetable oil (groundnut, sesame) is negligible. Local demand is met primarily through imports Sale was conducted in fair market conditions and prices were competitive

3. Cashew is Business “Cashew is Business” is the project’s slogan, reflecting the project’s approach to cashew production as a business enterprise and to farmers as entrepreneurs. Regional Project (September 2008- June 2012) in three countries; Senegal, Gambia and Guinea Bissau, focuses on addressing some of the constraints in the cashew value chain to enable better integration of cashews in the local and regional market.

4. Cashew is Business Three Strategic Objectives: – Capacity building of cashew farmers associations to strengthen their entrepreneurial and advocacy skills to better manage and provide leadership in the cashew value chain; – Identification of high yielding varieties, promotion and introduction of innovative agronomic and post harvest technologies; and – Increase local consumption of cashews through nutrition education and provision of appropriate small-scale processing units to transform apple and nuts into processed products.

5. Cashew is Business Reaches nearly 10,000 cashew farmers and processors in Senegal, Gambia and Guinea Bissau Provides intensive participatory training on business management, marketing, post harvesting and handling and agricultural best practices to improve the quality of the cashew nuts. Supports 8 small scale local processors in Gambia and Senegal through the provision of equipment and proper training Facilitates linkages among key actors along the value chain: farmers, processors, traders and nut exporters

6. ActivitiesGambia%Senegal%Totals No. of Direct Beneficiaries2662.4 3369.2 6032 No. of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) registered175 213 388 No. Local Cashew Facilitators trained in Business Marketing and Production Practices (BIMO Modules)215 366 581 No. of formalized groups and % of total6349%6550%127 Total formalized group membership2629 1646 4275 No. of collective sales contracts and % total75%2317%30 No. of FFS that completed BIMO sessions6873%66%74 No. of FFS that completed Module 78895%4953%137 No. of FFS that completed Module 87884%1213%90 No. of FFS with 75% completion of all the modules8389%1920%102 No. of FFS that completed all the Modules6368%00%63

7. Cashew is Business Key Outcomes To Date: Noticeable increase in farmers registering in Farmers Associations Farmers report an increased awareness of cashew nut quality requirements. Better understanding of the highly volatile marketing season and better price negotiations skills High quality of nuts in the Gambia in particular led to a premium price being paid to the farmers

14. Thank you International Relief and Development Dalia Emara, demara@ird-dc.orgdemara@ird-dc.org Stacy Crevello, screvello@ird-dc.orgscrevello@ird-dc.org