VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s leadership position in cashew exports has been extended for another year, the eighth consecutive year in a row, reports the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

A spokesperson for MARD revealed on December 18 that export revenues of cashew nuts for 2014 surpassed the US$2 billion mark, sufficient for Vietnam to retain its top position as the world’s biggest cashew exporter.

The announcement was made at a conference on cashew nut sustainability in the southern Binh Phuoc Province addressing the opportunities and challenges facing the cashew sector.

At the event, those in attendance pointed out obstacles facing producers including shrinking areas set aside for cashew cultivation and lack of a coordinated policy incentivizing cashew nut farmers to not switch to alternative crops.

At present, Vietnam has around 400,000 ha of cashew cultivation area, mostly in the Central Highlands, south-eastern and south-central coastal regions. The country’s total cashew output hits approximately 400,000 tonnes per annum.

Attendees proposed several measures to help local cashew producers and exporters iron out snags and develop a sustainable cashew sector, which included providing preferential credit loans to exporters, and creating a closer link between farmers and processors.

They also stressed the need to apply advanced technology in cashew production and processing, offer farmers incentive loans, and build up an annual mechanism for cashew prices.

VOV/VNN