cashew seed extract shows anti - diabetes potential
Lab tests have indicated that cashew seed extract could help boost glucose uptake, earmarking it as a compound with potential anti-diabetic properties.
The in vitro tests, conducted using mouse and rat liver cells, found that the stimulatory effect only occurred when high doses of cashew seed extract (CSE) were used. Other parts of the cashew plant – including leaves, barks and apples – were also tested, but were not found to have an effect on glucose uptake.
“Of all the extracts tested, only CSE showed significant stimulatory effect on glucose uptake. Extracts of other plant parts had no such effect, indicating that CSE likely contains active compounds, which can have potential antidiabetic properties,” wrote the researchers from the University of Montreal, Canada, and the Université de Yaoundé, Cameroun.
Tanzania : cashew firm to raise processing capacity
A local company will increase the processing of cashew nuts by 9,000 tonnes to 25,000 tonnes in the coming 12 months.The decision by the firm -- Olam Tanzania -- comes after the government raised duty on exports of raw cashew nuts from 10 to 15 per cent. Finance and Economic Affairs minister Mustafa Mkulo told Parliament that the government would also revive cashew-processing plants.And Olam Tanzania manager Hitesh Tripathi said in Mtwara recently that the output rise would create 2,000 more jobs -- directly and indirectly.Currently, the firm employs 7,000 people in its factories in Mtwara, Mikindani, Ziwani, Madimba, Nachingwea, Masasi, Mahuta and Newala.The company and the entire nation will gain a lot from the increase in duty on raw cashew nut exports. That will encourage us to raise processing capacity and generate more money through exporting processed cashew nuts. More employment will also be created," he said.The company also plans to impart better farming methods to growers to enable them to increase production. According to him, the company will be able to provide agricultural inputs, technical assistance, training on using pesticides and cleaning as well as offering loans to farmers.With increased processing, Olam will be able to meet the demand for processed cashew nuts in the US. "We now stand a better chance of competing successfully at the international market....above all, when much of the cashew nuts are processed locally, we will have the financial muscles to offer good prices to farmers," he stressed.He said the low duty on exports of raw cashew nuts had for a long time been depriving growers of better earnings since exporters bid for lower prices to meet other exporting costs.However, he said for exporters of raw cashew nuts to be completely discouraged, the government should raise export duty to 25 per cent to stimulate the industry and protect farmers from being exploited by middlemen. Tanzania produces eight per cent of the world's cashew nuts and most of the crop is exported in raw form.
Alliance wins USAID West Africa grant for access to finance initiative
The African Cashew Alliance has received a $146,000 grant from USAID/West Africa to improve access to finance for cashew businesses in the region.
“This reflects how important the cashew sector is – and has the potential to become – to the economies of West Africa,” said ACA Manager Christian Dahm. “Access to finance is a critical constraint to businesses across West Africa. With this support from USAID/West Africa, we will be able to tackle the problem aggressively.”
The grant will help the ACA upgrade the management and operations of cashew businesses in the region; market the viability of the cashew industry to finance institutions in order to promote investment; and, assess the policy environment and required investment incentives.
"Access to finance remains a critical obstacle in the cashew industry across Africa," said ACA President Carlos Costa. "We are very pleased that our strategic approaches are winning the support of key development partners like USAID West Africa and we are grateful for their support."
Bankers, investors, buyers and international cashew businessmen and women talked business at the ACA Annual Conference in Abidjan 2009.At a Business2Business forum during the event, participants were able to present their companies to the numerous prospective business partners in face-to-face meetings. More than 220 people from 25 countries used the conference as a networking and learning opportunity. Thematic workshops treated the key issues for the cashew industry in Africa, such as business planning and credit applications, post-harvest handling of raw cashew nuts and food safety in cashew processing. Field visits to a processing plant and the Abidjan port and cashew warehouses concluded the event.
Below, view a two minute video of the Cashew conference (please wait for the entire 4MB video to download):
The 5th Annual ACA conference will take place from 14-16
September 2010, at the Joaquim Chissano Conference Center in Maputo,
Mozambique.Click here to register now! or download the registration form,print it out, fill and send by fax to +233 (0)302 771363
Cashew News 
“This reflects how important the cashew sector is – and has the potential to become – to the economies of West Africa,” said ACA Manager Christian Dahm. “Access to finance is a critical constraint to businesses across West Africa. With this support from USAID/West Africa, we will be able to tackle the problem aggressively.”
ACAConf09EvareportFINAL 
