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Summary
How to order cashews from West Africa How the nuts are shelled and processed Technologies used Who is producing the cashews Email EnterpriseWorks Call us at (221) 991 4733 |
The cashew nuts processed under this program come from small
enterprises owned and operated independently by Senegalese entrepreneurs.
They are people who have invested their own money, have taken
training courses, and who hire teams of local employees for their operations.
These enterprises bring money into their communities and provide
jobs in areas where employment possibilities are minimal.In some cases the processors are also growers of the nuts; in others they purchase the nuts from nearby farmers. In all cases local processing of this type means that a greater share of 
what the consumer pays stays within the area of origin, rather
than going overseas.Each enterprise has received technical assistance from the project in the form of training and market development. Cashew processing according to export quality standards is complex, and workers must be trained in the various steps and in the standards that need to be strictly upheld. In addition, there are certain aspects of management specific to cashew processing that form the curriculum for a separate managers' training. Many of the entrepreneurs have shown creativity and motivation in the way they market their output, including deals with convenience store chains in Senegal and international contacts made over the internet. 
All of the businesses producing cashew kernels under the program
are new since it began in July 2001, and already they are providing
a living for those involved. Some are located in urban settings
in Ziguinchor, Senegal, while others are situated in small villages
among the cashew plantations. |
