Cashew nuts are not only a delicious and adaptable snack; they also play an important part in the agricultural sector of Burkina Faso.
As one of the largest cashew-producing countries in West Africa, Burkina Faso has gained recognition for its high-quality cashew nuts.
Burkina Faso Cashew
Located in the heart of West Africa, Burkina Faso has a suitable climate and fertile soil, making it a perfect location for cashew tree farming. Burkina Faso has emerged as a major player in the worldwide cashew sector, with large farms spread across the country. The cashew sector creates jobs and contributes significantly to the country’s economy. Commercial cashew farming began in Burkina Faso in the 1960s. However, it was not until the 1990s that the sector grew significantly.
As the worldwide cashew industry expanded, cashew nut marketing in Burkina Faso began to pick up in the early 2000s.
Some of the reforms implemented in the cashew sector in Burkina Faso include:
- The construction of new processing facilities in Burkina Faso has improved the country’s processing capacity and reduced its dependency on imports.
- The development of training programs for farmers and processors has helped to increase the quality and quantity of cashew nuts produced in Burkina Faso
- The introduction of a minimum support price for cashew nuts in 2008, that protect farmers from price volatility
These reforms have helped to boost the cashew sector in Burkina Faso and the country is now among the top largest producer of cashew nuts in Africa and one of the top ten exporters of cashew nuts in the world.
In 2021, Burkina Faso shipped out over 92,000 tons of cashew nuts. This is a high increase from 2020 when the country shipped out 62000 tons of cashew nuts.
During the past 10 years, cashew exports from Burkina Faso have had a steady growth. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2012 to 2013 at over 69%. The peak volume was in the year 2018 at 128,644 tons.
Here is the export volume of cashew nuts from Burkina Faso between 2012 and 2021.
Burkina Faso Cashew Nuts
Burkina Faso has actively marketed its cashew sector, with government efforts to increase cultivation and production.
Cashew farmers in Burkina Faso are organized into village associations, groups, unions, and cooperatives, with approximately 45,000 households involved in cashew nut cultivation.
Burkina Faso ranked sixth in Africa in cashew nut exports in 2021, with a total export value of US$116 million. The country has a favorable climate for cashew farming, and there is an increasing demand for cashew nuts on the global market.
The major destinations for Burkina Faso cashew nuts include:
- Singapore
- Vietnam
- India
- Germany
- Belgium
The other destinations are:
- Netherlands
- UAE
- US
Cashew nuts from Burkina Faso are exported via neighboring countries with seaports.
The most common route for exporting cashew nuts from Burkina Faso is through the port of Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire. Other routes include through the ports of Ghana and Togo.
Cashew nut exports are an important source of revenue for Burkina Faso, ranking third after cotton and sesame.
The government of Burkina Faso is also working to improve the cashew nuts export process. The cashew nuts export sector in Burkina Faso is expected to grow in the coming years. This could lead to Burkina Faso becoming a major exporter of cashew nuts.
Burkina Faso Cashew Exporters
The government of Burkina Faso regulates the export of cashew nuts primarily through the Burkinabe Council for Cashew (CBA). This body ensures that Burkina Faso cashews sold in markets abroad are of superior quality.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Handicrafts is the regulatory authority in charge of managing and regulating cashew nut exports in Burkina Faso.
It’s responsible for ensuring that cashew nut exports adhere to national and international trade standards, quality regulations, and trade agreements.
Cashew nut exporters in Burkina Faso must meet the following requirements:
- They must be registered by CBA
- Must have a valid export license issued by the BurkinabeCouncil for Cashew (CBA)
- Must export cashew nuts that meet the quality standards set by the CBC
- Must have the necessary documentation for their cashew nut shipments
Burkina Faso Cashew Nut Suppliers
Here is a top exporter of Burkina Faso cashews.
Freshela Exporters
Freshela is a Kenyan-based company that engages in the sourcing, processing, and exporting of cashew nuts and other fresh produce.
Freshela is a proud exporter of Burkina Faso. We give competitive pricing to our customers and guarantee reliable delivery time.