Deputy Government Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga has called on coastal farmers to adopt scientific farming techniques to revitalize the cashew nut and coconut industries. She emphasized the importance of using grafted seedlings, which mature more quickly, to boost yields.
Chidzuga highlighted that cashew nuts and coconuts have the potential to significantly improve the coastal economy and enhance food security. She compared the crops’ suitability to the way coffee thrives in the central region and sugarcane in Nyanza, stating that these crops can also prosper in the Coast region.
She encouraged farmers to shift from small-scale to large-scale farming to increase production and take advantage of agricultural activities for both food and commercial purposes. By treating farming as a serious profession, Chidzuga believes farmers can boost productivity and open new economic opportunities.
She also noted that widespread adoption of improved farming practices would make it easier for the government to provide support. The government is considering establishing processing industries in the area to add value to these once-thriving coastal crops. The decline in production has been attributed to poor farming practices and the use of inferior crop varieties.
