Decision No. 39/2007/QD-BNN Approving the Master Plan for the Development of the Cashew Industry until 2010 and Orientations until 2020

DECISION

Approving the Master Plan for the Development of the Cashew Industry until 2010 and orientations until 2020

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THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Pursuant to Decree No. 86/2003/NĐ-CP dated July 18, 2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

Pursuant to Decision No. 150/2005/QĐ-TTg dated June 20, 2005 of the Prime Minister approving the restructuring of agricultural, forestry, and fisheries production structures nationwide until 2010 and vision until 2020;

Pursuant to Document No. 1661/TTg-NN dated October 28, 2005 of the Prime Minister authorizing the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to approve the Master Plan for the Development of the Cashew Industry until 2010 and orientations until 2020;

Considering the proposal of the Director of the Processing of Agricultural and Forestry Products and Salt Industry Department, the Crop Cultivation Department, and the Planning Department.

DECISION:

Article 1. Approving the Master Plan for the Development of the Cashew Industry until 2010 and orientations until 2020 with the following main contents:

I. DEVELOPMENT VIEWS

1. Developing cashew production and processing in the coming period must ensure the best exploitation of all three benefits: economic, social, and environmental protection, in line with the restructuring plan of agricultural and forestry production structures nationwide.

2. Applying scientific and technological advances, improving productivity, quality, and efficiency, forming concentrated cashew cultivation areas linked with processing industries and consumption markets.

3. Developing the processing industry towards modern technology and advanced equipment with appropriate steps, enhancing product quality and diversification, ensuring competitiveness in international economic integration.

4. Mobilizing resources from various economic sectors, with the State supporting part of the investment in infrastructure development for transportation and irrigation in concentrated cashew cultivation areas, researching and transferring scientific and technological advances, seeds, and cultivation techniques.

II. ORIENTATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND SOME KEY INDICATORS

1. Development orientations

Developing cashew areas on suitable sites, especially in the Central Highlands, Southeast region, and South Central Coast; focusing on intensive cultivation and replacing old varieties with new high-yielding and high-quality varieties; modernizing processing equipment and technology to increase value and production efficiency.

2. Some key indicators by 2010

- National cashew planting area: 450,000 hectares; harvestable area: 360,000 hectares.

- Average yield: 1.4 tons/hectare; high-yield regions exceed 2.0 tons/hectare.

- Raw cashew nut output: 500,000 tons.

- Total processing capacity: Maintaining current total processing capacity at 715,000 tons of raw nuts per year.

- Quantity of raw cashew nuts entering processing: 625,000 tons, including 125,000 tons imported.

- Cashew kernel output: 140,000 tons.

- Export turnover: 670 million USD.

3. Orientations by 2020

- Stable cashew planting area around 400,000 hectares.

- Export turnover approximately 820 million USD.

III. SOME MAIN SOLUTIONS

1. Planning

a. People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities with cashew cultivation shall direct relevant local agencies to review and develop the provincial cashew industry development plans in line with the national master plan;

b. Reorganize cashew processing facilities such that by 2010 no additional capacity will be added, gradually reducing small-scale facilities not meeting hygiene and food safety conditions; establish large central processing facilities equipped with modern machinery and technology.

2. Building sustainable raw material areas

a. Implementing comprehensive measures regarding seeds, intensive cultivation techniques, infrastructure investment... to quickly increase cashew nut yields and quality;

b. Encouraging and creating favorable conditions for factories and processing facilities to enter into investment and product purchase contracts with cashew growers according to Decision No. 80/2002/QĐ-TTg dated June 24, 2002 of the Prime Minister; coordinating with state organizations to provide services and support farmers in agricultural extension work, cashew orchard renovation, rapid transfer of good seeds into production, organizing a coordinated system from cultivation, harvesting, storage, purchasing to processing, and improving product quality.

3. Science and Technology

a. Organizing and completing the research, selection, and creation of domestic cashew seed systems in combination with importing new seeds, striving to have over 50% of the cashew planting area planted with new seeds by 2010;

b. The plant and animal breeding program prioritizes the importation of new cashew seeds for testing and transfer to production;

c. Developing and promulgating suitable intensive cultivation procedures for each ecological zone, applying them quickly to production; increasing investment in intensive cultivation to rapidly increase cashew nut yields and quality;

d. Strengthening agricultural extension activities (state agricultural extension, agricultural extension by enterprises), training, guiding, building models to quickly transfer new seeds, advanced cultivation methods, and scientific and technological progress to farmers;

e. Processing facilities should plan investments to update equipment and technology to improve product quality, ensure food safety standards, and meet global economic integration requirements. By 2010, processing plants meeting HACCP standards should account for more than 70% of the national total processing capacity;

f. Based on market demand, investing in deep processing and product diversification to achieve sustainable development; by 2010, about 20% of cashew kernels should be processed into ready-to-eat products (salted roasted cashews, butter-fried cashews, cashew-filled sweets...), producing products made from cashew fruits (cashew wine, cashew juice...), cashew oil supplied to both domestic and export markets;

g. Researching and quickly applying mechanization to processing stages to address labor shortages.

4. Investment

The State budget will support the introduction, testing, and propagation of new cashew seeds; invest in water conservancy and transportation infrastructure in concentrated cashew cultivation areas; research mechanization of processing stages.

5. Consumption and Trade Promotion

The State encourages and creates conditions for processing and exporting enterprises to build brands and promote trade for cashew products.

6. Production Organization

a. Encourage and create conditions for processing enterprises to form joint ventures and companies with strong financial capacity, advanced technology, and strong brands to participate in the global market;

b. Strengthen and enhance the role of the Vietnam Cashew Association in coordinating businesses in market forecasting, science and technology, information, trade promotion, and product consumption; establish a production and export insurance fund for cashew nuts;

c. Establish clubs and associations for cashew growers in key regions such as Bình Phước, Đồng Nai, Đắk Nông, Đắk Lắk, Gia Lai, Bình Thuận, etc., organize cooperative service societies as intermediaries for providing materials, fertilizers, and product sales, manage quality, maintain reputation, and protect the raw cashew nut brand of each region;

Article 2. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 3. The Ministers, Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, and heads of relevant agencies are responsible for implementing this Decision./.