African Cashew Alliance

Improvement of raw nut quality and consistency in Africa is one important way to increase value of the crop and improve farmer income. Following recommendations at the recent national cashew meeting in Senegal in February, the USAID Economic Growth (USAID-EG) program, in collaboration with cashew nut exporter Senecomex, launched a raw nut quality improvement training in 4 different cashew producing regions in Casamance and Sokone. The training was done by Mr. Ram Mohan, Mr. Amrith Kurien and Mr. Suresh Govindan all working for Senecomex/ComAfrique.

The main elements of this programme are as follows:

• Designed and developped a training manual – by USAID EG in Collaboration with SENECOMEX SARL – a company which is an important cashew nuts exporter in the region
• This training manual covers the aspects of quality testing of raw nuts, estimation of yields, nut count , maintenance of plantations, harvesting, drying , storage and transport techniques of raw nuts, cutting tests of raw nuts, traceability and selection of planting material
• Delivery of training programmes through a participatory approach by the quality experts from SENECOMEX in training more than 120 trainers on cashew quality improvement in 4  different cashew producing regions. Trainers trained included projects extension staff, cashew traders, collectors, leaders of producer associations etc
• Training of 3 journalists from provincial radio stations to design and develop training and awareness programme on cashew raw nuts quality improvement
• Diffusion of a media education and training programme on every Thursday in local languages in Casamance on cashew quality improvement, harvesting and post harvesting techniques etc.Thousands of cashew producers are reached through this programme
• Trainers trained now conduct training and awareness programmes for  producers of cashew on quality improvement through village workshops focused on harvesting , post harvest techniques , quality testing and drying of raw nuts at producer, traders levels
• More than 210 cashew-produces are trained by the trainers trained by the USAID programme in Casamance and Sokone regions, the programme plans to reach at least 500 farmers during the cashew season of 2007
• Project facilitated to access cutters and scales for trainers

The manual (which you can download below) has been prepared by Senecomex, Mr. Ram Mohan for USAID/SAGIC and is only for Senegal. If you are interested in using the manual in other countries it has to be authorized by USAID/SAGIC and Senecomtex.

For more information contact:

Ram Mohan, director of Senecomex in Senegal and Comafrique in The Gambia at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or

USAID: Dr Patrick Nugawela at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Christophe Poublanc at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Here you can download the training manual:  Cashew Manuel - French 2.02 Mb