Cashew(Anacadium occidentale) is a large tree crop that belongs in the same family asmangoes. It grows best in sandy soils, in areas of as low as 500 mm ofrainfall. It has significant potential for providing farmers with steadyincomes and food security, alleviating poverty while conserving the naturalresource base. Growing cashew trees thus presents a strategic alternative tosmallholder farmers and reduces the risk of overdependence on subsistencefarming which is heavily dependent on growing of traditional crops. An increasein income from cashew stands to contribute to improved livelihoods and higherstandard of living for cashew growing households.

InUganda cashew has been adapted and planted by small-scale farmers in theeastern and northern regions in the following districts: Iganga, Mayuge,Tororo, Kamuli, Pallisa, Budaka, Namutumba, Bugiri, Busia, Mbale, Kumi,Bukedea, Soroti, Lira, Amuria, Abim, Oyam, Nakapiripirit, Dokolo, Amolatar,Kaberamaido, Apac, Gulu, Kitgum, Nebbi, Moyo, Amuru, Arua, Moroto and Kotido.

InUganda, agro-climatic conditions suitable to cashew nut growing are found innorthern and eastern districts where well drained, deep, sandy and sandy-loamysoils predominate, with annual rainfall ranging from 500 mm to 1250 mm and adry season lasting 3 to 5 months. The most common soils where cashew nut isgrown are ferrallitic soils (Ferralsols), with a yellowish dominant colour,lying on sandy sediments. A smaller area is occupied by ferruginous tropicalsoils, on crystalline acid rocks, freely drained. Other soils, such asVertisols, are not suitable for cashew growing.

Cashewtrees are mostly grown at the homestead boundaries, scattered around thehomestead, or in hedgerows at close distances. Generally, in Uganda, there aretwo harvesting seasons: the main one (November to December) and the other one(mid-July to August). This is, however, related to the rainfall, andconsequently the flowering and fruiting patterns. Harvest periods may vary fromyear to year, and from place to place. In 2004 seven countries, Ethiopia,Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda, formed the CashewDevelopment Network for Eastern and Southern Africa (RECINESA). This networkhas a strong focus on poverty alleviation through development of the cashewsub-sector.

The aimof the network is to address major cashew production constraints in the regionthrough a number of interventions. These include the evaluation of a range ofgermplasm, releasing a small number of selected clones to be multiplied andsold to farmers, and preparation of training and extension materials.

Scaling-up approaches

Cashewin Uganda is predominantly grown by small-scale subsistence farmers who largelydependent on family labour, and who use of simple hand tools such as hoes,machetes and ox-ploughs. In line with this, the RECINESA project has beendesigned with emphasis on formation of farmer groups so as to increase accessto information, knowledge and technology. Greater participation of affectedfarmers has been an explicit and vital feature of the project’s approach todefining and implementing its activities.

Farmergroups have been seen as platforms for farmers to gather, share and disseminateinformation for the betterment of their lives and farms. Fortunately, in Ugandathe NAADS programme, which is a decentralised, farmer owned and private sectorservice extension system has provided a suitable network and hence a medium foraccessing and mobilising farmers. This is cost effective, ensuressustainability, and increases ownership. Higher participation of farmer groupscan also increase their access to information, knowledge and technology. Thereis need to improve and promote efficient harvesting, processing and packagingof cashew nuts through technological innovations and capacity building.

Thecurrent challenges to cashew development in Uganda are: low production and lowproductivity mainly due to the issue of unselected seed, inadequate treeestablishment and management, absence of disease and pest control, and impropercrop husbandry. In addition, disseminating cashew technologies in Uganda isconstrained by lack of appropriate technology for value addition and access tomarkets.

Keyissues in the promotion of cashew growing in Uganda therefore revolve aroundthe need to improve farm level efficiency, establishment of standards, and,above all, having a private-sector led approach towards the promotion of theindustry. Translating these into action would imply: reaching the producer withseedlings, appropriate technology and inputs, ensuring farm level efficiency andlinking the producer and buyer to a market and credit sources.

Processingand marketing of cashew nuts can be two activities amongst many which canprovide some incentive to farmers to grow more cashew. Uganda requiresimprovement of processing efficiency for quality raw and roasted nuts, bettermarketing and thus empowerment of rural farmers to earn higher incomes fromtheir crop. In order to produce high value cashew nuts, it is necessary tobuild local capacity through improvement of existing skills in crop husbandry,processing and upgrading the packaging.

Higherparticipation of women can be explained by their dominant roles andresponsibilities in the farming and food production activities in the cashewgrowing areas of the country. Women have been provided with a legitimate socialspace to foster a sense of solidarity and collective action in their community.Land ownership / tenure issues are however of paramount importance indissemination of cashew technologies

Establishment and management

1)    Seed: Seed is traditionally the mostcommon method for planting cashew. Seeds should be selected from high yieldingtrees. Seed nuts which are heavy and sink in water should be selected. The seedscan be sown directly in the field or pre-planted in pots containing 3 parts ofearth mixed with 2 parts of fine sand. The seed should be sown upright, the wayit is attached to the apple or slightly at an angle of 45o with the concaveside facing out.

2)    Vegetative propagation: This is the onlyway that can reliably reproduce the desired characteristics of the mother treein successive generations. High-yielding trees should be selected forvegetative propagation, which can be done through grafting, budding, tissueculture or air layering.

3)    Field planting: Pits of 30 cm or 45 cmcube should be dug at a spacing of 8–15 m depending on conditions. In Uganda,the commonly used spacing is 13 m × 13 m.

Pest and diseases

Severaldiseases and insect pests such as aphids reduce productivity. Diseases includepink disease (Pellicularia salmonicola), anthracanose (Colletotrichumgloeosporio) and powdery mildew (Oidium anacardii). Spray with 1% Bordeauxmixture or other copper fungicides.

Insectpests include cashew stem borer (Plocaederus ferrugineus). Inject 1% Pyroconesolution in the bore holes. Leaf minor (Acrocercops syngramma), tea mosquitoebug (Helopeltis antonii), shoot and inflorescent caterpillar (Chelariahaligramma) and leaf thrips (Selenothrips rubrocintus). Spray with 0.025%parathion against the insect pests.

Name and contact of the organisation:

NationalForestry Resources Research Institute, (NaFORRI)

P. O.Box 1752,

Kampala,Uganda

Email: naforridir@infocom.co.ug;

Tel:+256- 0712 161161

Name and contact of presenter:

ByabashaijaDenis Mujuni,

P. O.Box 1752, Kampala, Uganda,

Email: dbmujuni@yahoo.com;

Tel:+256-0752-945818

Name and contact address of keyscientist:

JFOEsegu,

P. O.Box 1752,

Kampala,Uganda;

Email: naforridir@infocom.co.ug;

Tel: +256-712 161161

Name and contact of key partners:

PeterMasawe,

LeadScientist, Cashew Research Programme, Naliendele Agricultural ResearchInstitute,

P. O.Box 509 Mtwara Tanzania;

Email:palmasawe@yahoo.com; petermasawe@hotmail.com

Plate1.3: Fruiting cashew branch.