Cambodia's government is pushing for investment in processing facilities to support the production chain and reduce the export of raw cashew nuts, which allows other countries to gain more revenue by selling processed nuts. The country seeks to be the world's largest cashew producer, but it currently exports up to 90% of its 1.1 million tonnes of raw cashew nuts to neighboring countries. The National Cashew Policy 2022-2027 aims to increase production, improve quality, and expand the domestic and international market for Cambodian cashews. At least two companies have set a goal of exporting processed cashews this year in order to help the Kingdom's economy. Toch Bunhour, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF), stated that cashew production has achieved positive results and made significant progress, but that it still faces major challenges such as low production yields, economic efficiency, human resources, a limited budget for research and transfer of new production technologies, a lack of infrastructure to support production and processing, high production costs, and irregular fluctuations in market prices.
Reference: Sokhean, B. (2024, Jan 03). Cash-ewing in: Cambodia set to gain more revenue by exporting processed and not raw nuts. Khmer Time. Retrieved from:https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501416894/cash-ewing-in-cambodia-set-to-gain-more-revenue-by-exporting-processed-and-not-raw-nuts/