Sri Lanka plans to bring in 15,000 tons of cashew nuts still in their shells through imports

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to import 15,000 tonnes of cashew nuts in shell, addressing the unmet annual requirement caused by below-expected crop harvests in the last season.

Joining the Cabinet press conference in Colombo today (06), Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunawardena highlighted that the country’s annual requirement for cashew nuts in shell is approximately 25,000 Metric Tonnes.

However, the current local procurement stands at only 12,500 tonnes, presenting a significant challenge to the cashew industry due to the unexpected crop situation last season, as mentioned by the Minister.

Therefore, in response to this predicament, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture and Plantation. This proposal entails importing a maximum of 15,000 tonnes of cashew nuts in shell for this year.

Additionally, the Cabinet has endorsed importing a quantity to be determined by a committee consisting of senior ocials from relevant ministries. This import strategy is planned for the period from December to April over the next four years, addressing the period when the local cashew harvest is unavailable.