ACA News

ACA Members’ Survey Shows Strong Satisfaction with ACA Services

Membership grows to over 135 members

ACA membership has continued to expand rapidly as more and more stakeholders view ACA as an essential partner for cashew business in Africa. Currently, ACA is proud to count 135 companies and public agencies as members, representing every aspect of the international value chain: producers, processors, traders, exporters, buyers, financial institutions, equipment and service providers, non-governmental organizations, and government agencies.

ACA members come from 23 countries on five continents, creating a true global...

ACA Launches New Website, Market Report to Expand Communications Offer

In the African cashew industry, knowledge is power. Many cashew stakeholders have missed out on opportunities or made costly business mistakes due simply to a lack of information about the complex regional and international cashew market in which they operate. To address this, ACA has developed new tools for cashew stakeholders to improve transparency in the value chain and empower all players.

At the end of April, ACA launched a completely redesigned website that will make it easier for interested visitors to access crucial information about ACA services and cashew industry news....

Update from ACi: ACi Holds Workshop to Design Radio Campaign

During a three day workshop in early May organized by the African Cashew Initiative (ACi), participants explored the strength of rural radio programs and their ability to function as an extension tool to support farmer training. Since radio presents the main and sometimes only source of information for rural communities, it can provide cashew farmers with valuable information on cashew production and marketing. An activity-based radio program following the “cashew calendar” covers training modules such as: the installation of new plantations, management practices for cashew p...

Update from ACi: Training Material Available on FAO Website

As part of its drive to promote sustainable cashew production in Africa, GIZ and its project the African Cashew Initiative (ACi) have partnered with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The FAO’s “Technologies and Practices for Small Agricultural Producers” Knowledge Sharing Platform (TECA) is an avenue through which different partner organizations, ranging from national, regional and international research organizations, to advisory services, universities, NGO’s, development agencies and producer organizations, provide agricultural...

$14 Million in Investment Financing for Cashew Processors Made Available Through Partnership with BOAD

On Friday May 11, ACA Managing Director Christian Dahm, USAID West Africa Acting Director Lisa Franchett, and the President of BOAD (Banque Ouest Africaine de Developpement, or the West African Development Bank) Christian Adovelande signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Lome, Togo to improve access to finance for investments in cashew processing. The agreement will make available CFA 7 billion (US$14 million) in investment financing to cashew processors supported by the ACA in CFA zone countries. These funds will enable an increase of processing capacities, including the acquisition of...

Registration Launched for 7th ACA Annual Conference

Online registration is now open for The Future is Now! The 7th ACA Annual Conference will be held in Cotonou, Benin from 17-20, September 2012. Register before June 15 to receive discounted early bird rates!

The ACA Conference has become the world's largest annual cashew event. This year, over 400 international cashew industry stakeholders are expected to join ACA in Benin. A four day program of a plenary session, World Cashew Forum, Business2Business meetings, and field trips will...

ACi Success Story: ACi Farmer Training Increases Income for Beninese Cashew Farmers

An ordinary working day of the Beninese farmer starts with an early morning walk of about two hours before reaching the four hectare cashew farm he has owned for more than 20 years. It is harvesting season at the moment, which means his daily activities consist of collecting the ripe cashew apples, separating the nut from the apple and drying the raw cashew nuts (RCN) to ensure good quality. During the harvesting season the farmer mainly consumes the harvested cashew apples instead of bringing meals to the farm. This saves him money and food resources.

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First Processing Facility Receives Provisional ACA Seal Approval

After more than a year of development, the ACA Quality and Sustainability Seal is being implemented in the first cashew processing factory in Africa. Tolaro Global, a new facility located in Parakou, Benin, signed a contract with ACA to participate in the Seal program in mid-December in what was a historic moment for ACA.

After a preliminary inspection and training in the food safety, quality, and labor procedures required for ACA Seal approval, the company spent a few months instituting systems to ensure compliance with the Seal standards. When the ACA Seal team visited for a...

ACA Faciliates US$2 Million in Financing for 3 Nigerian Processors in Partnership with Ecobank and NEXIM

A breakthrough in access to finance was announced on March 1st by the ACA, the USAID West Africa Trade Hub, and African Investors Management Services Ltd (AIMS). A Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM) and Ecobank will facilitate access to US$2 million in financing for three Nigerian processing firms, which could lead to dramatic increases in processing capacity and create hundreds of jobs in the Nigerian cashew sector.

The three processors (ACET, Abod Success, and KD Foods) are members of the Nigerian Cashew Cluster Finance Scheme (NCCFS), a group...

ACA Discusses African Cashew Industry with H.E. Alassane Ouattara, President of Côte d’Ivoire

ACA gained a high-profile new supporter when President of Côte d’Ivoire H.E. Alassane Ouattara spoke with ACA representatives at the opening of the new Olam processing plant in Bouake, Côte d’Ivoire on 23 February. H.E. Ouattara had chaired the official inauguration ceremony of the factory and unveiled the commemorative plaque of the event in front of about 400 guests. The Minister of Industry Dosso Moussa and the Minister of Justice Jeannot Ahoussou Kouadio also attended with other high level personalities from public and private sector. The officials, including H.E. Ouattara, then...