Cambodia has emerged as the second-largest exporter of raw cashew nuts globally, shipping 830,000 metric tonnes in the first seven months of this year. Despite this high export volume, the country processes only around 5 percent of its annual cashew production domestically. The Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which oversees 580 hectares of cashew farmland with an annual yield of 1.5 metric tonnes per hectare, is launching the National Policy on Cashew 2022-2027 to change this.

The government's new programme aims to establish three modern cashew farming communities in Kampong Thom province. With support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, farmers will receive financial and technical assistance to make cashew production more efficient and improve value creation. The plan targets a 25 percent increase in cashew harvesting and processing by 2027 and a 50 percent increase by 2032, as well as expanding export markets and enhancing competitive advantages.

Currently, Cambodia exports the majority of its fresh cashew nuts due to limited processing capabilities. With this programme, the country aims to shift towards increased domestic processing, capitalising on the rising global demand for cashew products. In comparison, cashew prices in India have seen a noticeable rise, with cashew kernels, W320, trading at USD 7,960 per metric tonne.

---