Climate Change Blamed for Cashew Export Shortfall
Cambodian nuts were unlike those imported from Africa, which were of poor quality and affected by disease. Photo: Ministry of Agriculture
- By Chhum Chantha
- March 9, 2023 3:15 PM
PHNOM PENH – Climate change has been blamed for Cambodia’s inability to meet the demand for a million tonnes of raw cashew nuts from Vietnam.
Uon Silot, president of the Cambodia Cashew Federation, said Vietnam wanted the cashews this year.
The federation had not yet addressed the problem of climate change but had considered expanding the cultivated area, especially to improve the price and market for Cambodian cashews.
“Vietnam needs at least two million tonnes of cashew nuts a year to process and export,” he said.
“Vietnam is interested in Cambodian cashews because they are disease-free, have large seeds, have a great flavor and are of good quality.”
Cambodian nuts were unlike those imported from Africa, which were of poor quality and affected by disease.
Vietnam is the world’s leading cashew export market.
In 2022, Cambodia exported 670,000 tonnes of raw cashews to Vietnam, worth about $1 billion, down 34% on the same period in 2021.
Despite the climate crisis, the federation predicted that in 2023 cashew exports to Vietnam would rise slightly.
In the National Policy on Cashew nut 2022–2027, Cambodia set goals of improving productivity and production with competitive quality and promoting industrialization to add value to cashew harvesting and processing by 25% in 2027 and at least 50% by 2032.
The country also aims to boost exports through market diversification, cross-sectoral linkages in exports, trade facilitation, cost reduction, and market superiority.
Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this story was translated by Te Chhaysinh for Cambodianess.
