Africa-Press – Tanzania. CASHEW growers in Mtwara, Masasi and Nanyumbu districts have earned a total of 206bn/- from the sale of raw cashew nuts (RCN) in the ongoing 2025/2026 auction season. The earnings were generated from the sale of 82,000 tonnes of RCN through three separate auctions held in Nanyumbu, Masasi and Mtwara districts.
Marketing Officer for the Mtwara, Masasi and Nanyumbu Agricultural Cooperative Union (MAMCU), Ms Neema Sumavere, revealed the figures recently, noting that all sales were conducted online through the Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX) platform.
Ms Sumavere said the cashew nuts were sold at prices ranging between 2,700/- and 2,320/- per kilogramme. She was speaking during the fourth cashew auction held in Mtwara District. At the fourth auction, growers offered over 18,000 tonnes of cashews, with prices ranging between 2,620/- and 2,310/- per kilogramme.
Commenting on the price trends, MAMCU officer Mr Seleman Mshamu urged growers to ensure that the RCN they deliver to the market meets high-quality standards to secure better prices.
Mr Mshamu noted that prices have recently dropped due to the poor quality of some of the nuts delivered for sale. “I urge farmers to ensure that cashew nuts are properly dried to reduce moisture content before they are taken to warehouses,” he said.
He emphasised that moisture content is a key factor affecting both quality and price. He added that during the 2024/2025 season, prices reached a historic high due to the consistently high quality of cashew nuts.
Prices that year rose to 4,120/- per kilogram one of the highest records in recent years. Meanwhile, farmers have called on the Cashewnut Board of Tanzania (CBT) to intensify training on proper post-harvest handling to help growers meet quality standards.
“As farmers, we need training and resources on essential postharvest practices to ensure quality,” said Abdulhaman Said, a cashew grower in Mtwara District. Tanzania is renowned for producing high-quality cashew nuts valued globally for their premium taste and consistency.
This excellence is attributed to favourable climatic and soil conditions particularly in southern regions such as Mtwara, Lindi and Coast combined with good agricultural practices. The country remains one of Africa’s largest cashew producers and continues to hold a strong position in the global market.
