Presently, cashew nut production in Guinea-Bissau is going strong. The central, western, and north-eastern parts of the country are famous for growing cashew nuts. Apart from that, these areas produce more than half of the country’s cashew output.
Guinea-Bissau is divided into three agroecological zones, namely North, East and South. The categorization is based on ecological, climatic and demographic characteristics. The Northern zone has the largest area planted with cashew at 55%.
The Northern zone experiences an oceanic climate with an average annual rainfall of between 1500mm and 1800mm. The Eastern zone follows with planted area under cashew standing at 27%. Whereas 18% of the total area planted with cashew trees in the country is found in the Southern Zone.
Cashew was introduced in Guinea-Bissau by the Portuguese in the 19th century. In the 1960s, nurseries were established in Bafata, Bissau, Bolama Island, Canchungo and Prabis thus several hectares of orchards were planted. In 1968, cashew exports from Guinea-Bissau were about 550 tons. By 1974, cashew exports had doubled according to the Ministry of Trade.
The momentum to plant more cashew increased in the mid-1980s. During that time, the government launched a policy to increase overall agricultural production in the country. This policy helped people in Guinea-Bissau acquire land easily for cashew farming.
Guinea-Bissau Cashew
Cashew in Guinea-Bissau is largely cultivated by small-scale farmers. Definitely, the area under cashew farming is getting bigger continuously. In 1978, about 14,000 hectares were planted with cashew trees. Yet as of 2012, over 200,000 hectares were covered with cashew trees. This is according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAOSTAT).
Similarly, cashew nut production in Guinea-Bissau is rising. Only 3,000 tons of cashew were produced in 1978 according to data from FAOSTAT. Nonetheless, more than 100,000 tons of cashew nuts were produced in 2012.
Guinea-Bissau Cashew Nuts
Guinea-Bissau exports among the highest number of cashew nuts in the world. In 2022, Guinea-Bissau shipped out slightly above 130,000 tons of cashew nuts. It is an increase of 40% from the previous year.
Over the past decade, cashew exports from Guinea-Bissau have recorded stable growth. The highest jump in volume was recorded from 2021 to 2022 at 40%. The peak volume was in the year 2013 at 195,974 tons.
Here is the export volume of cashew nuts from Guinea-Bissau between 2013 and 2022
Cashew Nuts in Guinea-Bissau
The major destinations for Guinea-Bissau cashew nuts include:
- India
- Brazil
- Germany
- The Netherlands
- Italy
The other destinations are:
- Vietnam
- Poland
- France
Guinea-Bissau takes cashew nuts abroad through its main sea port. Cashew nuts leave the country as sea freight by way of Port of Bissau. This sea port has a modern container terminal.
The other exit point in Guinea-Bissau is its main airport. Cashew nuts leave the country as air freight by way of Osvaldo Vieira International Airport. This airport has a huge cargo terminal. Yet, this is only for processed cashew nuts.
Guinea-Bissau Cashew Nut Exporters
The government of Guinea-Bissau regulates the export of cashew nuts primarily through the National Cashew Agency of Guinea-Bissau (ANCA-GB). This body ensures that Guinea-Bissau cashews sold in markets abroad are of good quality. While the Ministry of Agriculture controls the production of cashew nuts, the Ministry of Trade controls its marketing.
Cashew nuts exporters in Guinea-Bissau must meet the following requirements:
- They must be registered by ANCA-GB
- Have a phytosanitary certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture
- Have a proforma invoice
- Have a commercial invoice
- Have a packing list
- Have a Certificate of Origin from the Chamber of Commerce of Guinea-Bissau
- Have a Bill of Lading (shipping agency) or Air Way Bill (airline)
Guinea-Bissau Cashew Nut Suppliers
Here is a top exporter of Guinea-Bissau cashew
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 Guinea-Bissau cashews. We give competitive pricing to our customers and guarantee reliable delivery time.