Abstract
In recent decades a boom in cashew (Anacardium occidentale)cultivation has taken place in Guinea-Bissau, leading to the replacement of traditional slash-and-burn agriculture by a cash crop. As a result, the country is currently one of the world’s largest producers of raw cashew nuts and the cashew sector has acquired enormous importance in Guinea-Bissau’s economy. Changes induced by the cashew boom at social and environmental levels are yet to be analyzed and understood. The present study provides an account of the process of cashew expansion in Guinea-Bissau, reviews the current situation and discusses its future prospects. The cashew tree was introduced into the country by the Portuguese in the XIXth century, but only effectively expanded in the mid-1980s. It is largely cultivated by small farmers around villages and also plays a role in land ownership, since land tenure practices are linked to the planting of trees. The effects of this cashew boom on habitat fragmentation, fire regimes and biodiversity are still to be assessed. On the other hand, the spread of pests and diseases is becoming a problem. Strong dependence on a single cash crop also renders the country vulnerable to market fluctuations, entailing risks to local producers and the national economy. In the medium term, losses of export earnings can occur, which may impact the living standards and food security of Bissau-Guineans both in urban and rural areas.
Highlights
The country Guinea-Bissau is located in West Africa, between10o 59’ - 12o 20’ N and 13o 40’ - 16o 43’ W (Figure 1)
Changes induced by the cashew boom at social and environmental levels are yet to be analyzed and understood
The cashew tree was introduced into the country by the Portuguese in the XIXth century, but only effectively expanded in the mid-1980s
Summary
10o 59’ - 12o 20’ N and 13o 40’ - 16o 43’ W (Figure 1). According to the National Institute of Statistics and Census, in 2014 1,514,451 inhabitants populated an area of 36,125 km. Data from a country report for 2013 report a deterioration in the terms of trade, 1kg of rice being exchanged for up to 3 kg of cashew (Cont and Porto, 2014) Another factor which can help to understand the continuous cashew expansion and consequent decrease in production of staple crops. In recent decades the progressive expansion of cashew cultivation has led to important changes both in the countryside landscape and in the traditional way of life in rural communities, due to the conversion of vast areas of slash-and-burn shifting agriculture to orchards dedicated to a single cash crop. Cashew trees are sometimes planted as live fences, despite the fact that their spreading habit makes them unsuitable for close spacing
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