Improved Women Income Through Cashew Nuts Value Addition in Mtwara Mikindani Muncipality: A Case Of Bdg Women Group In Mtwara Mjini Division

Cashew nut project processing was chosen by the group members to improve their income and standard of living for the community at large. The study was administered through questionnaires to select a best advantageous activity among other activities done by members. The sample size of 50 was randomly selected out of 80 members using Yes and No written papers. Both quantitative and qualitative research was used in arriving to the selected project of their need. The presence of reliable stakeholders and availability of processing machines at SIDO premises were valuable assets for cashew nut project. Due to warehouse receipt policy, small processing cashew nuts have the challenges of getting steady supplies as they could not raise enough capital. The control mechanism put in this system is viewed by some writers as overregulation which favors the outside markets but has negative impact on final processing within the country hence denies employment to our people and revenue. The packing materials availability within the country was also seen as an issue of concern which should be dealt to minimize cost of ordering from Nairobi, Kenya. To make sure every member increases the profitability which assures to have the goal of improving income level, trainings on project planning, marketing, sales promotion and customer care was done to the group members. The monitoring, evaluation and sustainability was done in a participatory manner and every member is knowledgeable to perform it. SIDO team has placed an idea on the re-use of cashew shell remnants for renewable energy to run their premises including machines but the good plan need the reformed policies regulation on local processing and stakeholder’s concerted effort is needed to push this in line with government policy of local content and industrialization