Mtwara port gears up for cashew nut season

Mtwara.The government has urged the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) to work with ship agents to ensure smooth access to containers and ships during the upcoming cashew nut season, which begins in later in October.

Deputy Minister of Transportation David Kihenzile gave the directive on October 4, during the opening of a stakeholders' meeting on the transportation of cashew nuts through Mtwara port.

"We are aware that there was a challenge of shortage of vessels and containers last season," Kihenzile said. "I urge you to engage with stakeholders such as the PIL, Maersk, CMA CGM, and others to ensure that there are no challenges until the end of this month when the season begins."

The Deputy Minister also directed TPA to ensure close monitoring and reporting to the Minister of Transport on the implementation of the directive issued by President Samia Suluhu Hassan during her recent visit to the region, that all cashew nuts be transported through the Mtwara port.

Other instructions include TPA ensuring that it properly supervises the quality of cashew nut cargo exported outside the country.

Additionally, he urged TPA to work with the Regional Commissioner's office in Mtwara to agree on how stuffing can be done to improve the quality of cashew nuts without causing any inconvenience or disruption to traders.

The Deputy Minister also emphasized the importance of infrastructure and the responsibility of TPA employees to ensure that they oversee the President's directive. He urged all institutions involved in the entire process of transporting cashew nuts to help traders instead of hindering them.

Mtwara Port Manager Ferdinand Nyati stated that there are no challenges and that the containers are available. He has also welcomed ship agents for further discussions.

Meanwhile, Mtwara Regional Commissioner Colonel Ahmed Abbas has called on all stakeholders involved in the value chain of the cashew nut crop to ensure proper supervision of its quality during sales and transportation, in order to increase its value both domestically and internationally.

Colonel Abbas emphasized the need for stakeholders to protect the value of the crop and ensure its quality in warehouses. He also urged the Cashewnut Board, Cooperative unions, and registrars to oversee the quality of cashew nuts, while urging all stakeholders to ensure the quality of the crop in warehouses.

Furthermore, he called on transporters and buyers to use the remaining time before the season begins to rectify contracts, as they are crucial in ensuring the safety and quality of the product.

On his part, the Director-General of the Cashew nuts Board, Francis Alfred, urged stakeholders to adhere to the guidelines for managing and controlling the quality of raw cashew nuts for the 2023/2024 season.

One of the provisions of the guideline states that anyone found working as a quality inspector at the auction warehouse without proper qualifications will be fined Sh500,000, while the warehouse operator will be fined Sh1.5 million.

He also emphasized the use of packaging materials with the logo and number of the relevant primary union.