Guinean Cashew Alliance Launched
Guinean cashew farmers, processors and traders have joined forces to develop the potential of the cashew industry for the country’s economy. On February 25, 2013, the Guinean Cashew Alliance (l'Alliance Guinéenne de l'Anacarde) was launched in Conakry at an event attended by more than 50 participants from industry and government. With a growing production and processing industry, cashew contributes to the incomes of 50,000-80,000 people in rural Guinea.
Their income could be significantly improved by promoting good agricultural practices, harvest and post-harvest handling to improve the poor quality of the crop. Furthermore, local processing of cashew could create thousands of jobs in rural communities. Christian Dahm, Managing Director and William Larbi, Partnership Officer traveled to Conakry with USAID-BEAM support and at the invitation of the newly launched Guinean Cashew Alliance (AGA). While at the launch event, Dahm and Larbi presented the international cashew market, its potential in Guinea and policy options for supporting the sector. ACA and AGA signed an MOU establishing a partnership agreement that reinforces cooperation and collaboration between the two organizations.