The cashew nut processing industry contributes 27-45% of the total export turnover of the province each year

(BP Portal) - On July 7, at the Provincial Political School Convention Center, Binh Phuoc Provincial People’s Committee coordinated the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Vietnam Association organized the workshop “Solution of Science and Technology to enhance the value of Binh Phuoc’s cashew industry”; organization exhibition introduction technology equipment booths (techmart) in cashew industry in 2023.

Binh Phuoc is currently the country’s cashew seed capital, with an area of planting over 152 thousand hectares, accounting for nearly 50% of the country’s cashew tree area. Binh Phuoc’s cashew planting area is mainly concentrated in 4 large specialized areas of the districts: Bu Dang, Bu Gia Map, Phu Rieng, Dong Phu. The average cashews yield of the province in the 2022-2023 year is estimated to be 1.1 ton/ha.

In recent years, the production and processing of the province’s cashew industry has been focused, promoting strong development in many forms of linkage suitable for production conditions and the needs of farmers. For example, organic cashew chain has about 3.007/152.007 ha, accounting for 1.98%; production link chain has 15 cooperatives with cashew planting area of about 4.867.3ha; raw material area cooperation chain with 8 enterprises participating in registration of link geographic indications... Binh Phuoc is the only local in the country to be recognized for protecting geographical indications for cashew trees.  
Binh Phuoc has formed the cashew processing industry with 1,416 facilities, accounting for the largest number of cashew processing facilities in the country with 33 medium-sized enterprises, 115 small enterprises, 1.254 micro-small enterprises. Cashew nut processing is the main industry, the most powerful of the province, each year contributing from 27-45% of the total export turnover. In 2022, the total value of export turnover of the province’s cashew products reached $1.045 billion. The cashew nut processing industry has contributed to a dramatic transformation of agricultural production structure, from self-sufficient agriculture, self-progression to modern agriculture, large commodity production.

After processing, Binh Phuoc cashew nut products exported to over 100 countries around the world such as EU, USA, Japan, Australia, China ..., accounting for about 75% of the world cashew export market share, contributing to the creation of regular jobs for about 80 thousand workers in 1,416 cashew nut processing facilities and garden collecting labor.

The success of the main cashew industry is to have modern processing technology, machinery, equipment, technology line superior, efficient, which helps to increase productivity, save raw, fuel material, reduce cost, meet the requirements of international customers. Thanks to the continuous innovation technology line, the facilities have completed the system of criteria to certify international standards for food safety such as: BRC, ISO 22000, HACCP,.... The application of science technology helps enterprises process cashew nuts to increase value for products, increase profit for enterprises and contribute to increased budget revenue, is the leverage to promote Binh Phuoc’s cashew nut processing industry to develop, contributing to promoting exports.

Besides the advantages, the province’s cashew nut industry also encounters some difficulties and challenges such as: The province’s cashew nut processing facility has not been proactive to the raw material source, the province’s raw cashew nut supply only meets about 30% of the province’s processing capacity, about 70% of raw cashew nut materials depend on the supply of imports from Indonesia, Cambodia, Africa. Some cashew nut processing facilities have not focused on investing in developing raw materials area; have not supported, signed contracts for acquisition with planting facilities so the source of raw materials is not stable, shortages of domestic materials for processing... The link between enterprises and farmers in the production-processing-business chain is not tight. In addition, there are many cashew nut processing facilities at micro scale, financial potential is limited.

In order to remove the difficulties and challenges above, at the conference there have been many reports of discussions, opinions, solutions of experts and units on the cashew industry. The Center for Research and Development of cashew trees has discussed the research achievements and potential for cashew tree development in Vietnam and Binh Phuoc; Agricultural University in Ho Chi Minh City discussed the potential of processed products from Binh Phuoc cashews in non by-products oriented; Limited Liability Company MTV Service - Trade and Export Mechanical Gia Bao discussed cashew products: Status and solutions development; the discussion of the Vietnam Cashew Nuts Association on some challenges and solutions to develop Binh Phuoc cashew industry; the discussion of Binh Phuoc cashews and technology on the status of exploitation and solutions promoting value of Binh Phuoc cashew products; discussion on trade promotion, promotion of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts products with the perspective of the practice of Vinahe Limited Responsibility Company.

From there it can be seen, this workshop is organized as a forum for scientists, experts, enterprises, regulators, investors and consumers to exchange knowledge and experience: New technology in processing, cashew production and new products processed from cashew nuts; solutions to enhance the value of Binh Phuoc cashew products; solutions on science and technology to overcome common diseases in cashew plants during climate change; building and developing brands of Binh Phuoc cashew is increasingly sustainable.

Besides the main content of scientific solutions and technology to enhance the value of cashew industry Binh Phuoc, in the framework of the workshop, the organizers also introduced specialized techmart cashews booths with nearly 90 booths displaying seedlings, planting and care of cashew seeds; technology of harvesting, processing, post-harvesting, cashew seeds; equipment technology production equipment products, planting and production auxiliary products; products from cashew seeds, photo exhibition video introduction of cashews industry...