He makes Shs10m from cashew nuts a year

Erukana Emuron started growing cashew trees as a way to just survive the hard economic times but it is now more than just that. Over time, his plantation has grown and from it, he is able to meet most of his needs.

Cashew nut is a simple cash crop to take care of, with the advantage that it thrives even in the very hostile climates and grow best in sandy soils. Though not fertile, the trees will still do fine without additional attention and costs associated with use of fertilisers. All it demands of farmers is pruning to ensure that the yields do not drop.

Marketable
Unlike some cash crops, whose market has eluded farmers, cashew nuts are highly marketable because of its wider uses. In addition to being a delicacy, it is has medicinal properties in the other parts like leaves and bark which can be used for the health benefits.

The products are used in industries. Cashew nut growing in Uganda may be an unknown venture to many farmers but it is worth exploring with no competition to worry about.

What is cashew nut and its oil used for?
According to Charles Emaju, Agricultural Officer, Soroti District, cashews are fast growing evergreen tropical trees that reach to a height of 12 metres. It takes only two years to fruit and blossoming takes place between November and January.

It can be grown directly or grown first in the nursery bed before being transferred. A spacing of three to four feet must be left in between.

Cashew nuts, like other tree nuts, are a good source of antioxidants. Alkyl phenols, in particular, are abundant with fats and oils, good source of dietary trace minerals copper, iron and zinc for human growth.

Besides human consumption, Emaju says parts of the plant are used for manufacture of drugs. The outer bark is scraped and soaked to produce a gum used in varnish.

Seeds are ground into powders used as anti-venom for snake bites, and the oil as an antifungal and for healing cracked heels. Patrick Okello, a retired agricultural officer, says the crop is commonly used in Indian cuisine; the nut is used whole for garnishing sweets or curries, or is ground into a paste that forms a base of sauces for curries.

He adds that if farmers can adopt cashew nut growing, which is still informal in Uganda, they would diversify their source of livelihood.

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