Cashew International

2012 Crop in West Africa is here

2012-02-04T18:43:00.002+01:00

Dear cashew blog followers,

With this post we start a new series of articles about cashews in West Africa and about our company. We'll try to keep up to speed as good as Javier did till now and we hope to write about interesting things.

Today I want to call for enthusiasm. We're approaching 2012 crop in West Africa in terms of RCN purchasing and I believe we're ready for the challenge. We've had a tough but good 2011 and although prices are dropping, we're optimistic about the future of this beautiful nut.

Once again, a new crop brings opportunities and challenges. We'd better be ready for both. As opportunities: quality, efficiency and strong market relationships. As challenges: financing, investments and volumes.

We all know very well that cashew business isnt' easy. But as in any other business, hard word and continuous learning help showing results. It's our responsibility to our teams. And since this is our job, let's have fun with it!

New challenges

2011-12-27T21:24:00.014+01:00

I would like to inform that I'll be leaving my responsibilities in Cashew International to start my own projects here in Spain. It has been a difficult decision as I feel with David and Gerard as father of this project and it has brought a lot in terms of personal growth, knowledge, human relationships and social and economic development.

Cashew International has been developing projects in West Africa to support the region economically and socially in a way that we understand responsible and it will continue with same philosophy and objectives in the future. It is not the moment of measuring objectives as our project is still being developed but if I could think about these three years of Cashew International I am very proud of what we have done. Developing private businesses in West Africa as a way of improving the region in economic and social terms, to have stablished long-term relationships around the world based in trust and transparency with our partners, suppliers, customers, NGOs, public-private projects, and to achieve to know the value chain of the cashew in our projects to share fairly these values among the partners. Sometimes it has been difficult but we have continued in the only way we know, following our principles and values to develop the project.

Gerard is taking over my responsibilities so you can please feel free of reaching him anytime at gerard@candor-ags.com.

I would like to thank you to the Cashew International and Candor-AGS team and our partners involved in the projects we are currently doing for the support, commitment, professionalism and specially for giving a human perspective to business and wish for all you a Happy New Year.

Javier

Africa Rising

2011-12-15T11:39:00.008+01:00

"Africa Rising" is the title of last's week front page of "The Economist". This title was very indicative as a decade ago the same "The Economist" wrote an article about "Africa: the hopeless continent".

It seems that things are changing. It is difficult to say why as there are many factors: the increase of direct investments, the entrance of technology in the continent, the boom of relationships between developing countries (China, India, Brasil) that has invested and changed the way of doing business in Africa, the increase of stability in some countries, the increase of the price of commodities. Despite the difficulties to mention the factors what we can realize today is that Africa has changed at least the expectations in economical terms have increased.

These are good news but not enough. There is a lot to do: basically how to drive this economic expectation to an increase in the continent welfare and standard of living and how to reduce inequalities while the continent is growing.

Going deeper into the subject "The Economist" has another article inside titled "The sun shines bright" where it explains about the keys of these changes in the last decade and the challenges in the next future.

In addition to the well known factors as increase of GDP last years, reduction of inflation, increase of trading with rest of the world and inside the continent, reduction of foreign debts, reduction of public deficits there are many other considerations that brings hope to find in these times the definitive growth that will bring a general increase in terms of health, education, social protection similar to Asian tigers two decades ago.

These considerations are:

- The foreign direct investment (FDI) has increased more than double of total aid (when ten years ago was similar amount).
- Only a third of the economic growth is due to commodities so sales of minerals, oil, gold,... are still important but it exists a growth in other sectors (technology, banking, communications, transport).
- Political stability increases the growth of the countries. There are more countries that hold elections than before and in the north of Africa social movements are defeating dictators. We all know there are a lot to do in political terms in the continent but an improving comparing past times is a reality.
- Access to technology. Mobile phones have penetrated into the bush. Also internet services allow to increase trading and access to information. Technology is also aiding health care. Bed nets have reduced mortality and treatments are more effective today.

As we mentioned before there are still a lot of things to do to confirm this expectation about Africa and to improve the way of sharing these growth throughout the continent but it is encouraging to realize that African comet is starting to fly high.

African Cashew Initiative

2011-05-16T10:21:00.002+02:00

As part of the African Cashew Initiative (ACi) I would like to present the new website that ACi has created for this project.

The African Cashew initiative (ACi) focuses on organizing and supporting cashew producers in five African project countries in order to enable them to increase their yields and the quality of their products, to improve business linkages with the medium and large scale processing industry, brokers and traders and develop advanced marketing strategies (including quality management). ACi fulfills its project components through its implementing and contributing partners.

I have also added a link of this website on the right side of the blog for interested readers. It is a pleasure being part of this cooperative cashew project focused in Africa.

Public-Private Partnerships

2011-04-01T16:34:00.005+02:00

Public-Private Partnerships are being developed around the World. The regional government of Catalonia in Spain through ACC10, a public institution for supporting the internationalization of catalan companies, has developed a meeting to talk about the increase of this kind of alliances and it was a pleasure for me to have the opportunity to participate and make a presentation of our project.

The video is in catalan so I am sorry for not being available for everybody.

Public-Private Partnerships and Development Alliances

The supply of cashews: a challenge for local processing units in Burkina Faso

2011-02-15T10:43:00.005+01:00

Today's post has been also written by Mme. Raïssa and Mr. Kalifa with the second part of cashew sourcing in West Africa. We can read it also in french and english:

Approvisionnement des noix de cajou: un défi pour les unités locales de transformation de cajou au Burkina Faso

La croissance de la demande mondiale de cajou ces dernières années s’est traduite dans les pays africains par l’arrivée massive de nombreux acheteurs étrangers, notamment en provenance de l’Inde.

En 2010, les unités locales de transformations de la noix de cajou ont durement ressenties l’effet de la flambée des prix de la noix de cajou dû à la spéculation des divers acteurs intervenant dans la chaine des approvisionnements: producteurs, collecteurs, commerçants, acheteurs-exportateurs. La plupart de ces unités de transformation n’ont pas pu produire durant toute l’année par manque de la matière première noix.

En 2011, avec des difficultés de mobilisation des fonds et la nécessité de rétablir la confiance avec les clients non satisfaits l’année écoulée, la campagne de production s’annonce décisive pour les unités de transformation burkinabè de la noix de cajou. Celles-ci doivent en outre prévoir une éventuelle arrivée des acheteurs de la noix de la Côte d’Ivoire (premier producteur de la noix de cajou en Afrique) avec la crise politique dans ce pays, afin de définir la stratégie appropriée pour garantir leurs approvisionnements en noix de qualité et quantité suffisante.

Dans ce contexte, le renforcement du partenariat producteurs-unités de transformation s’impose pour réduire l’implication de nombreux intermédiaires qui font flamber les prix. L’organisation d’ateliers, de sorties de prospection auprès des fournisseurs permettent de maintenir le contact avec ceux-ci, d’échanger des informations et voir l’évolution de la campagne.

Le responsable approvisionnement de la Sotria-B et les responsables financiers de Cashew International sont conscients de cette nécessité dans la région des cascades.

La survie des unités locales de transformation de noix au Burkina Faso dépend pour cette année de leur capacité à disposer de noix de cajou. Aussi, ces acteurs devraient s’organiser pour trouver une réponse adéquate aux fluctuations incontrôlées du prix de la matière première noix de cajou dans leurs zones d’approvisionnement.

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The supply of cashews: a challenge for local processing units in Burkina Faso

The growth of cashews world demand in recent years has affected in African countries by the arrival of many foreign buyers, particularly from India.

In 2010, local cashew processing units have felt the impact of the soaring price of cashew nuts due to speculation by various actors in the supply chain: producers, collectors, traders, buyers-exporters. Most of these processing units have not been able to produce throughout the year due to lack of raw nuts.

In 2011, with difficulties in mobilizing funds and the need to restore trust with customers unmet last year, the production campaign will be decisive for the burkinabe processing units. They must also provide a possible arrival of cashew buyers from Ivory Coast (the largest producer of cashew nuts in Africa) because the political crisis in this country, to define the appropriate strategy to ensure their cashew nuts supplies in quality and quantity.

In this context, strengthening the partnership producers-processors is needed to reduce the involvement of numerous intermediaries who drive up prices. The organization of workshops, field trips for suppliers can maintain contact with them, exchange information and see the evolution of the campaign.

The responsible of the supply of Sotria-B and the financial responsibles of Cashew International are aware of this need in “les cascades” area.

The survival of local processing units in Burkina Faso for this year depends on their ability to source of cashews. Also, these actors should organize themselves to find an adequate response to price movements of raw cashew nuts in their supply areas.

The harvest of cashew nuts in the region of Les Cascades (Burkina Faso)

2011-02-04T12:02:00.004+01:00

Next post has been written by Raïssa and Kalifa, the Cashew International employees based in Burkina Faso. We can read it in french and english below:

La récolte des noix de cajou dans la région des cascades (Burkina Faso):

La région des cascades est l’une des treize régions du Burkina Faso, pays situé en Afrique de l’Ouest. Elle regorge d’énormes potentialités culturales du fait de la fertilité de son sol. L’anacardier, l’une des plantes les plus cultivées de cette région est appréciée à travers sa noix qui procure d’énormes revenus aux producteurs. Les mois de janvier à mai constituent les principaux mois de récolte des noix de cajou.

La récolte de la noix de cajou est une activité essentielle pour le producteur car la qualité de la noix qui sera issue influence le prix de vente et partant le revenu du producteur. Une bonne préparation de cette récolte s’impose par l’observation de certaines règles:

-Ramassage des fruits et des noix tombées tous les jours: la qualité des noix se détériore très vite si elles sont laissées sur le sol pendant longtemps et le taux d’humidité s’augmente ce qui peut provoquer le développement de moisissures (pourriture, etc.). Il ne faut jamais cueillir la noix de cajou lorsqu’elle est sur l’arbre. Pour un producteur exploitant 10 ha, l’aide des membres de sa famille ne lui sera pas suffisante. Il lui faudra une main d’œuvre supplémentaire.

- Séparation de la noix de la pomme immédiatement en utilisant un couteau si nécessaire. Il est déconseillé de stocker ou d’entasser les noix avec la pomme encore attachée car cela augmente l’humidité.

- Séchage des noix sur une surface dure / surface non absorbante. Dans les villages on utilise souvent la véranda de devant la maison ou un espace aménagé dans le verger.

L'observation des régles de bonne récolte permet d'améliorer la qualité de la noix qui sera soit stockée, soit immédiatement vendus. Après cette étape de récolte, le producteur devrait faire un effort supplémentaire dans le transport et le stockage de ses noix pour préserver leurs qualités jusqu'aux unités de transformations ou aux acheteurs qui s'y intéresserons.

Il est donc temps pour les producteurs burkinabè de se mettre au travail pour assurer la qualité des noix qui seront récoltées et permettre aux entreprises de transformation comme la Sotria-B de disposer des noix de qualité.

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The harvest of cashew nuts in the region of Les Cascades (Burkina Faso):

The region of Les Cascades is one of the thirteen regions of Burkina Faso, a country situated in West Africa. It holds tremendous potential for cultivation because of its fertile soil. The cashew tree, one of the most cultivated plants of this region is assessed through its nuts which provide enormous revenur to producers. The months from January to May are the main harvest months of cashews.

The harvesting of the cashew is a key activity for the producer because the quality of the nuts that will influence the selling price and therefore the producer's income. Adequately preparation of the crop is needed by observing certain rules:

-Collection of fallen fruits and nuts every day: the quality of the nut deteriorate quickly if left on the floor for a long time and augments the humidity which can cause mold growth. It should never pick the cashews while they are in the tree. For a 10ha producer, he will not be sufficient with members of his family. He will have an additional labor.

- Separation of the nut and the apple immediately using a knife if necessary. It is not advisable to store or pile the nuts with the apple still attached as it increases the humidity.

- Drying of nuts on a hard surface/non-absorbent surface. In the villages is often used a place outside the house or a space located in the orchard.

Observing the rules of good harvest it improves the quality of nuts that will be stored or immediately sold. After this stage of harvest, producers should make an extra effort in the transport and storage of the nuts to maintain their grades up to the local processing units or buyers who will be interested.

It is time for producers of Burkina Faso to work to ensure the quality of nuts to be harvested and to enable processing companies like Sotria-B to have quality nuts.

The African Challengers

2010-11-03T09:25:00.003+01:00

The world, despite the international crisis, is still increasing the economic globalization. We can read hundreds of articles and studies about emerging countries, mainly the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China) but not easy to find african reports in these kind of "global economy analysis".

The boston Consulting Group (BCG) has published a study about African evolution in a global market. It analyzes some African companies that want to compete in a global economy and details some advantages and challenges of the region.

I am sure that in Africa it exists opportunities, the interest of China, India and developed countries shows that, but the main interest today is to take these opportunities without stimulate inequalities, that it seems quite more difficult.

African countries are growing more than world average but the problem is inside these statistics. Despite the GDP growth in African countries most part of the population does not benefit in the same way. And between countries we can see easily big differences also. It's interesting to note that in this study 77,5% of the studied companies comes from 3 countries that explains that major part of the region is not having the same benefits of the growth that African statistics show.

BCG study

Cashew International in local press

2010-10-21T13:58:00.004+02:00

Education, awareness about social development in developed countries is more needed than ever. The increase of inequalities and the current crisis generate the obligation to increase the percentage of people working together for a complete development, including environment, economic and social development.

In addition, changing the way of looking the labour market it will be a necessity with high rates of unemployment like developed countries like Spain that it will force to change the model to another more efficient.

Last September the newspaper "Indicador de Economia" a local newspaper from Tarragona province in Spain focused in economy has done an article about Cashew International, the project and the business model.

I believe completely in this way of communication and I would like to thank you to "Indicador de Economía" to give me the possibility of collaborate in this work of education and awareness for changing and improve current social and economic models.

Article

Partnership with SOTRIA-B

2010-09-07T13:42:00.008+02:00

It's a pleasure to announce the partnership between SOTRIA-B and Cashew International.

SOTRIA-B is a burkinabe company based in Banfora that process cashews employing more than 200 workers mainly women.

The partnership between SOTRIA-B and Cashew International includes advising, financing and commercial agreements.

It's our wish to support local processors in West Africa working as partners being involved in all the branches that is needed and be focused in the social and economic development of the company and the community around the company.

Partnership between SOTRIA-B and Cashew International

The Cashew Family increases

2010-09-02T10:12:00.004+02:00

I am very pleased to announce that the Cashew Family increases. Raïssa and Kalifa are both burkinabes and they start working in the Cashew International project.

It's our intention to work together with local communities and local people as the best way to support local companies to reach the international standards and to be ready to compete with the rest of the world improving the local economy and the social environment.

Raïssa and Kalifa have the Degree and Master in Economics, they are eager of supporting the development of the project with very good ideas. I am happy because of the possibility of working together. I am convinced that their knowledge and perspective will improve our work in Burkina Faso supporting local companies in advising, financing and trading.

World Champions!

2010-08-10T11:41:00.003+02:00

After a few days out of my country I would like to share our experience during our last visit to West Africa. Gerard and me were travelling and visiting cashew processing plants while the Spanish national team was beating different national teams until the Big Final.

We were ready, we were nervous but happy of enjoying the World Cup in Africa. After 90 minutes no goals on the score. More nervous, shouting in every shot but nothing changes. And near the end of the extra-time, it happens!! Iniesta scored the definitive goal giving to Spain our first World Cup title.

We were happy, enjoying the moment, sending some e-mails to some friends and to remember that moment we share how we lived it.

Thank you to the photographer, Christian, to send us the picture.

Education

2010-06-11T12:17:00.009+02:00

Today I have a presentation of the project in my city in Spain. There are two secondary schools that have joined their basketball teams and this week is the end-season week, they have some matches, a dinner and an educational session among others.

I believe it's very important for the students and their parents to know about different ways of developing projects and supporting the social impact of businesses. This is why I think that transmitting the knowledge that we learn with our experience is also a commitment for all of us.

Here we have a presentation of the educational session:

The raw nut market

2010-05-23T19:59:00.005+02:00

The end of the crop in West Africa is near. After a few months of harvesting the raw nut has been mainly sold to processors, exporters and others inside and outside the countries.

During this last months the price of the raw nut has increased considerably. There are different points of view and reasons to explain why the price has increased. One of the reasons has been the amount produced in some countries like Benin, below expectations. Other reason could be the interest of traders, exporters, international companies,... the demand after all, who have arrived to West Africa to buy as much as possible due to the short crops mentioned in the first reason.

In economy and trading nothing is black or white so probably the reason of the increase of the price of raw nuts is a mix of different reasons.

The increase of the price has affected to the farmers who have received more money for their cashews. The increase has affected also to the processors who have paid more for their raw material affecting the costs of their companies and their final profits.

One of the main points fixing the price of the raw nut is the quality of the nut. The better quality the higher price. In West Africa it exists the possibility of increasing the quality of the nuts affecting directly to the amount the farmers can receive. This is why training to farmers is key not only to increase the quality of the nuts but also to increase the revenues of the farmers who can see an increase of income for rural families in Africa.

Cashew Video

2010-04-12T16:12:00.003+02:00

Last September, during the Annual Cashew Conference I met Robert Booth, a filmmaker that arrived from New York to do a film about cashews, people and profit.

He filmed some parts during the Annual Cashew Conference in Abidjan and we continue together with Megan Tweed, Specialty food advisor from the West Africa Trade Hub and Lars from Mim Cashew in a cashew trip crossing Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Togo.

It was really interesting and useful. I am very grateful to Rob and Megan for the experience, their work and their time spent together.

This is the main part of the video. Thanks Rob.

HACCP in Murcia, southern Spain

2010-03-29T13:19:00.003+02:00

Two weeks ago I have visited Murcia, southeast of Spain to learn about HACCP.

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) is an industry-wide effort approved by the scientific community as well as regulatory and industry practitioners. This effort is designed to focus specifically on food safety, including food safety in retail establishments.

There are a lot of documentation about HACCP around the World Wide Web. Thanks to the support of the group Candor-AGS I have been able to visit a company in Murcia to learn "in place" the structure and the implementation of HACCP.

I have work and learn about diagram flows, decision trees and physical observation of critical control points. I am very happy about this really useful training focused in food safety.

I would like to thank you specially to Paco Puerta, expertise of the group, for the attention and treatment during these days in Murcia.

I hope that this knowledge can help the project in the processing plants in West Africa as a complement of the management's work there.

The crop is here!

2010-02-25T11:07:00.005+01:00

The crop has started in West Africa. Depending of the country we will have the cashew crop from January/February to April/May and with this the time for the processors of buying the raw nuts to the farmers.

More than ever over the year financing is key during these months. If the processors in West Afica don't receive financing they will cannot buy the raw nuts and they will cannot process cashews during the whole year. This is why financing is very important for the sector, for the processing companies, the employees, the farmers, their families, all the people involved in the sector is afected for these challenges.

This has been the main reason of my recent trip. I have visited Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo and Ghana looking the best way to support the sector. I have done very good and interesting meetings with banks with the support of the ACi project. Thanks to Christian, Vanessa, Roger, Peter, Judd, Kingsley for the support to the sector during the project and especially during this last trip.

I believe that financing will arrive and cashew processing in West Africa will have in 2010 the best year in history and thinking in improve for next years!

Back in the States

2010-01-26T10:56:00.008+01:00

I have come back from my first trip of the year. My experience in the USA has been amazing. I have had the opportunity of doing some conferences about Cashew International and african cashews.

I have explained in five different conferences all about our project focused in the cashew value chain.

I have detailed this cashew trip starting in the tree continuing through the cashew apple, the processing plant including the storage, the boiling, the drying, the de-shelling, the oven, the peeling, the grading and recovering, the packaging and finishing with the transport and shipping to have a whole view of the cashew value chain.

I am really happy of this experience, having the opportunity of meeting with some friends and trying to share my experience and transmit that it is possible to build a model based in transparency, fairness and sustainable development.

I would like to share with all interested people a summary of the presentation.

2010

2010-01-04T16:27:00.005+01:00

2010, new year, new challenges.

2009 is over, the year when started our cashew project. It seems very far but it's just 8 months that I travelled to the US starting the experience and 7 months from my first african cashew trip.

Lots of experiences, lots of nice people met, a lot of work and a lot of learning.

All of this brings Cashew International in a incredible position to start 2010 with hope, confidence and desire to work in continuing growing the project.

Patricio Arce, Goodbye to a most beloved Friend

2009-11-23T09:22:00.007+01:00

Today´s post is dedicated to Patricio, an incredible person and friend.

Six years ago, I met Patricio at the Navarra Agronomic Research Institute, a leading research center in the north of Spain. I was looking to learn about new hibrid artichoke varieties for our South American and Chinese fields. All related to our artichoke company. So there he was, in his late sixties but still working as a young kid. He showed me his incredible work and we became good friends.

I had the chance to travel with Patricio to China, where he helped us teaching growers how to plant artichokes. I learned during these trips that Patricio lived several years in Togo when he was younger. He worked in agricultural development in a project that he called "my son" as he started it from the ground. He loved all related to "capsicum" (peppers) and kept travelling to Burkina and Togo till recent months. His strenghts were his energy, his commitment, his humanity and his hapiness for simple things like having a glass of scotch with friends after a tough working day.

Javier and I saw Patricio for the last time few months ago in Logroño, his home town in the north of Spain. He introduced us to La Salle and their agricultural project in Burkina Faso, Clima, which Patricio called his grandson. And he was excited to help us on cashews in West Africa. Since then he kept giving us his wise advise and good directions to follow.

Patricio passed away on October 23rd. His teachings will remain in our hearts and we'll spread out his energy and love for Africa as well as we can.

Talent and fear... A talk to the banking industry

2009-11-20T16:21:00.004+01:00

Today's post is written by Gerard. Financing is one of the key points in this project.

I was recently invited to attend a conference about talent management. This conference was sponsored by one of our banks, Caixa Sabadell.

So I took few hours off the office and I was possitively surprised to listen to Mrs. Pilar Jerico, an specialized HHRR consultant, author of books like NO FEAR.

To Mrs. Jerico point, living without fear is something worth thinking about. I once heard the question "what would you do if you knew you could not fail?". Up to you to look for answers...

To our cashew issues... we're in crucial times! Bank financing for our processing partners is still too big of a question mark. African banks haven't decided yet what to do... and I wonder what would be wrong with a bank industry if it does not take the risk to support their own agri-business industries? Probably some of the CEOs of these banks should attend Mrs. Jerico lessons and make decisions without fear. Sure there's still hope they'll support us, but we need a little bit of action to support employment, create added value and export quality cashew kernels. We're not messing with toxic assets here, we're just working with wonderful cashews!

Social Impact of Cashew Processing

2009-11-11T12:38:00.014+01:00

Creating a new company always has social implications. Job creation, value added, availability of goods or services, competitiveness in the sector, tax incomes for public budgets,...

But nowadays in Africa this implications are still more important because of the huge impacts in local communities. A small cashew processing company can employ more than 300 new workers and the possibility to increase next years.

As we have seen in past posts the wages allows the people of the community to stay in their places, to bring the childs to school or to buy medicins. Also it allows the farmers to increase the incomes selling the raw nuts, organize themselves in cooperatives or the possibility of participating in this new companies related to the cashew sector.

But after creating the company, this can support the community in different ways as:

- Transportation: trucks or tractors facilitates mobility of the workers, raw material, equipment.

- Local road maintainance: take care of the roads near the plant, cutting the grass and branches besides the road.

-Health insurance: for the employee, his husband or her wife and childrens.

-Agreements with local banks, hospitals, institutions or other companies to increase through trading and economic growth the social development of the community.

Different ways to support the community from business. Some of them are being implemented in West Africa, other are ready to be implemented.

Cashew Apple applications

2009-11-03T12:07:00.014+01:00

There are people trying to develop commercial applications for cashew apple, an oval or pear-shaped fruit that develops from the receptacle of the cashew flower. It is edible but the market seems not very interested on it.This is why people or companies are trying to do alternative applications as juice, biofuel or brandy.

During my last trip I saw one of this alternative applications for cashew apple. In Mim Cashew they are making cashew brandy with the cashew apple. It was done years ago and now they are producing trying to develop this commercial application at the same time they are developing the processing of cashewnuts.

There are different steps to make cashew brandy:

When they have the cashew apples, they start cleaning the fruit and doing the juice.

After this they make the fermentation.

Next, they distill to achieve the alcohol.

After distillation the alcohol is filtered and blended. After this process they can proceed to fill the bottles and doing the packaging.

We are eager to see how they have success in this cashew apple application. Cashew world is not only nuts and this kind of initiatives are going to show it.

Cashews in Togo

2009-10-05T09:42:00.006+02:00

Togo was one of my targets in my last West African trip. There's one processing plant called Cajou Espoir in Tchamba, in the north of the country. I met the President and the Managing Director of the company in the Conference of Abidjan. They invited me friendly and I was able to see the plant a few days later.

Cajour Espoir has a strong social component. They employ near 150 workers, mainly women. They started a few years ago buying raw cashew nuts in Tchamba and other places in Togo like Kabou or Bassar. They are very implicated with the country, the village and the people who lives there. Workers can receive a wage and this allows them to stay in the village and to pay for their children's education. But nothing better than themselves to explain what is Cajour Espoir:

4th Annual Conference of the ACA

2009-09-17T10:05:00.008+02:00

"Value and Efficiency" was the theme in the 4th Annual Conference of the African Cashew Alliance from the 1st to the 3rd of September in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.

The Conference is an opportunity for farmers, processors, exporters, buyers, NGO, banks, institutions and everyone involved in the sector for discussing, learning, doing meetings about cashews, cashews and cashews.

Cashew International was there! I was able to meet very interesting people and work together with other organizations and companies to achieve the goals in the future.

Definitely, cashews are a great opportunity for West Africa. Peter Keller from GTZ and Director of the African Cashew Initiative (ACi), Richard Rogers from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Carlos Costa president of the ACA, and Christian Dahm from the ACA, explained about the ACA today and the African Cashew Initiative and how this project is working to develop the cashew sector in terms of social and economic growth at the same time.