According to Mark Mbui, a former manager at Kenya Cashew Nut Limited, cashew nut farming used to be the backbone of Kilifi County's and the entire Coast region's economy. However, after the collapse of the Kenya Cashew nut factory 25 years ago, tress were cut down for fuel, while others were left to grow into bushes.
Mbui said the company came to being in 1975 and by the early 80’s the factory was processing about 60-70 tonnes per day and had employed a labour force of 3,000 workers. During the peak season, the industry was the country's major export earner and also a source of employment to the residents.
“However, with the collapse of the factory, many farmers have lost interest in the once treasured coastal ‘gold’ and have since paid attention to other crops such as maize, cassava, fruits and coconuts,” said Mbui.
Mbui’s sentiments of reviving the industry were echoed by a former employee of the company, Mrs Kadzo Nzaro, a mother of nine, who said that since the collapse of the factory in the early 1990s, life has never been easy.
She attributes the increased level of poverty in the area to the collapse of the industry, as many people lost their source of income.
Kilifi County Agriculture CeC Mr Mwalimu Menza acknowledged the need to revitalize the industry.
He said it is so unfortunate for the previous governments to have neglected such a vital industry which served not only in the region’s economy but the country at large.
Source: hivisasa.com
