Food & Water featured

How Great are Cashews?

By Uche Isieke, originally published by Linked In

June 26, 2024

cashew tree programme beneficiary

Cashew trees are known not only for their delicious nuts but also for their numerous benefits that cut across nutrition, economics, and the environment.

Nutritionally, cashews are rich in healthy fats, protein, vitamins like B6 and E, and minerals such as copper, magnesium, and zinc, making them a valuable dietary addition.

Economically, cashew cultivation presents significant opportunities, especially in regions practicing agroforestry. By combining trees with crops and livestock, farmers can diversify their income streams and improve soil health through natural fertilization and erosion control. Cashew trees typically yield fruit within two to three years, providing a relatively quick return compared to other tree crops.

RUWAI volunteers moving trees from the nursery to a benefiting community in 2023

A hectare of well-managed cashew farm can yield substantial income, with estimates varying based on factors like location, market conditions, and agricultural practices. Cover crops, which are quick-growing plants grown alongside cashews, offer immediate benefits such as weed suppression, soil improvement, and additional income while waiting for the cashew trees to mature.

The Rural Watch Africa Initiative (RUWAI) plays a crucial role in educating and empowering rural communities. RUWAI equips farmers with skills, resources like diverse seed crops and economic trees, including cashews, and technical support to practice sustainable farming, enhance land productivity, bolster local economies, and mitigate climate change and land degradation.

A young female beneficiary of the RUWAI 2022 community tree planting and agroforestry training in Kwali FCT Nigeria

This year 2024, RUWAI aims to expand its community tree-planting efforts to reach more rural areas and foster environmental preservation. Your support towards this initiative will directly contribute to these goals, empowering communities and safeguarding our planet for future generations.

We are nearing our funding goal, and your contribution can make a significant difference. Consider donating to RUWAI’s community tree-planting campaign. Here is one of the ways to sponsor a community by giving towards our 2024 annual community tree planting campaign:

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/ruwai-community-tree-planting/. Together, we can create lasting positive impacts on rural livelihoods and environmental sustainability. Thank you for your support!

Cashew trees taken from the nursery to the planting site in 2023

Images:  from the RUWAI 2022 and 2023 community tree planting programs

Uche Isieke

Uche Isieke is an advocate for rural resilience and inclusion. He is quite passionate about the rural people, their environment, and social and  economic well-being. He is a young development professional with over 5 years experience and has impacted many rural communities through his various  initiatives targeted at the poor and marginalized groups.  Uche is the Executive Director of Rural Watch  African Initiative (RUWAI), a nonprofit committed to strengthening the production and protective resilience of vulnerable rural communities facing poverty, ecological and economic breakdown due to extreme weather events and human errors, for the effective restoration and management of natural resources, for food, water, energy and income opportunities which are important tools in mitigating climate change.

Uche’s core interest is on building agroecological systems, sustainable agriculture land management for food security, livelihoods strategy for self-sufficiency, as well as inspiring young ones to lead in climate action. For more about Uche click the link:https://ucheisieke.blogspot.com/2019/11/about-uche-isieke.html

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