The Ivorian government, represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food Production, has inaugurated a new cashew nut processing unit in Loukoukro, near Yamoussoukro. Developed by Afcott Cashew Sarl, a subsidiary of the Kewalram Chanrai industrial group, the facility spans 20 hectares and has an initial processing capacity of 20,000 tonnes per year. Afcott plans to increase the factory’s processing capacity to 50,000 tonnes by 2027. The Purchasing Manager at Afcott expressed their goals to produce 4,000 tonnes in 2024, rising to 11,000 tonnes by 2027, aiming to impact national and international markets significantly. The investment aligns with Ivory Coast’s strategy to encourage private sector involvement in the processing segment of the cashew sector, contributing to economic growth and value addition in the country.
Cashew nuts are a crucial agricultural export for Ivory Coast, ranking second after cocoa, and contribute 9 percent to the country’s gross domestic product. The government aims to transform 50 percent of the country’s cashew production by 2030, emphasizing agro-industrial zone development. In 2021, Ivory Coast’s cashew nut exports generated around $961 million, reinforcing its position as the largest exporter of cashew nuts in Africa. The newly inaugurated processing unit reflects Ivory Coast’s commitment to modernizing the cashew industry, promoting economic growth, and enhancing sustainability in the agriculture sector.