Tanzanian army lands in cashew region to manage crop purchases

A woman holds cashew nuts at a warehouse in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. [Photo: Reuters]

NAIROBI - Soldiers arrived in southern Tanzania to oversee government management of the country’s cashew nuts, local newspaper Citizen reported, a move ordered by President John Magufuli to protect farmers from low prices.

International traders of cashew nuts say the move could lead to a supply shortage after Magufuli ordered a 94 percent rise in cashew nut prices last month to protect farmers. He then told his government to acquire the estimated 220,000 tonne crop after private buyers refused to buy at the higher price.