Improving livelihoods of smallholder cashew farmers and factory workers in regions Mtwara and Pwani, Tanzania

The Monchy Food Company (MFC) aims to improve livelihoods of smallholder cashew farmers in the regions of Mtwara and Pwani in Tanzania. This will be done together with the non-governmental organization (NGO) SNV and the research institute TARI. MFC is a holding company with a focus on importing and distributing nuts, seeds, dried fruits and superfoods to Europe. Also, MFC owns a Tanzanian cashew farms named Amama Farms who works directly with 38 cooperatives (i.e. unite smallholder individual farmers).

According to the latest statistics published by the Tanzanian government, 25.7% of its population continues to live below the poverty line. In the region of Mtwara, this percentage is even higher. Less than 60% has access to safe drinking water. With an average regional GDP of 4,686,258 TSH, the region of Mtwara has some of the lowest GDP's of the country. There is limited access to essential services, including infrastructure, education, and healthcare. The average income in Tandahimba tends to be lower than the regional average, around 151,000 TSH (55 Euro) per month. The population, including smallholder farmers, relies on activities such as agriculture for their primary source of income.

From the start of phase A, MFC will be working together with SNV to make cashew farming more attractive for the local youth and setting up new farmers cooperations with younger generation cashew farmers. SNV will also be assisting us to promote intercropping practices. Furthermore, MFC collaborates with TARI on cashew research and the development of high-quality seedlings. TARI will also be involved in our plans to set up a local nursery and a farmer training center, contributing to the improvement of cashew farming practices.
With the project, MFC aims to reach 400-500 young people and more than 1,000 smallholder farmers.