MTWARA; November 7, 2026 - The Tanzania Cashew Board (CBT) has assured investors planning to establish cashew processing factories in the country of adequate raw cashew nut supplies, as the government intensifies efforts to expand domestic processing capacity by 2030.
CBT Director General, Francis Alfred, said the Board would work to ensure that investors committing substantial capital to cashew processing facilities have reliable access to raw materials and do not face factory operational disruptions due to shortages.
Alfred made the remarks during a cashew stakeholders' meeting organised by NMB Bank in Mtwara on November 7, 2026. The meeting brought together processors, buyers and traders to explore financing opportunities and address challenges affecting different segments of the cashew industry.
He welcomed NMB Bank's engagement with industry stakeholders, noting that collaboration between financial institutions and businesses across the cashew value chain was essential to increasing production, strengthening the industry and supporting Tanzania's ambition to expand domestic processing capacity by 2030.
Alfred also called on other financial institutions to engage directly with industry players and develop financing solutions that respond to their needs.
He further urged banks to ensure timely payments to farmers, explaining that prompt payments would enable farmers to meet their financial obligations and adequately prepare for subsequent production activities.
NMB Pledges Support for Cashew Industry
Speaking at the meeting, NMB Bank's Head of Agribusiness for Wholesale Banking, Christopher Mwalugenge, said the bank was ready to support businesses operating across the cashew value chain throughout the 2026/2027 marketing season.
He explained that NMB's financing solutions were designed to help auction buyers and primary-market participants secure sufficient quantities of raw cashew nuts while ensuring that domestic processors have access to the raw materials needed to maintain continuous factory operations.
For exporters, Mwalugenge said the bank provides tailored financial solutions to facilitate timely purchases and enable businesses to meet their international supply contracts.
He added that NMB had also strengthened its payment and transaction services to facilitate commercial activities and improve financial efficiency across the cashew value chain.
Strengthening Financing and Domestic Processing
The engagement between NMB Bank and cashew industry stakeholders is expected to strengthen coordination between financial institutions and businesses, with particular emphasis on access to working capital, increased domestic processing capacity and timely payments to farmers.
The initiative comes at a time when Tanzania is seeking to capture greater value from its cashew production by expanding local processing rather than relying predominantly on the export of raw cashew nuts.
Reliable financing, adequate raw material supplies and efficient payment systems are therefore expected to play an important role in attracting investment, supporting existing processors and creating a more competitive domestic cashew industry.
Through its engagement with industry stakeholders, NMB Bank continues to position itself as a financial partner in supporting agricultural value chains and businesses contributing to Tanzania's economic development.
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