The first 2.5 tonnes of new species of cashew nuts being tried out in Mozambique has been harvested this crop season at the Nacala Cashew Centre in northern part of the country.

The dwarf cashew tree was introduced in 1993 at the centre set up by the Danish NGO, ADPP, under the People-to-People Development Aid programme, to enhance productivity.

Cashew production has been declining in Mozambique because most of the trees, of the traditional type, are now old. The crop had suffered neglect during the civil war and are vulnerable to disease. The Nacala dwarf cashew plantation covers 45 hectares. The centre planted another 45 hectares with the traditional tree