The humble cashew nut is packing a punch in Liberia. Not only is it an income booster, it is helping local communities adopt more sustainable livelihoods. 

In Gbaigbon village, Bomi County, northwestern Liberia, climate change is bringing more extreme weather. Increased droughts, more frequent forest fires, as well as short but heavy rains are threatening current ways of life. There is an urgent need to transition to more sustainable ways of earning a living. 

“Until recently, I earned my money by collecting the Liberian ‘kiss-meat’ snail from the swamps,”  explains Jebbeh Mansally, a 50-year-old mother of six, from the Gbaigbon Cashew United for Change group. “It was very labour intensive and would take 3-5 days to collect a 25kg bag. I also produced charcoal which is the main fuel source for many Liberians as most households do not have electricity. “

Both these practices require intense labour and extreme efforts. Relying on the kiss-meat snail for income was becoming harder, especially in the dry season as the snail was becoming scarcer to find. And cutting down trees from which to make charcoal was contributing to deforestation and exacerbating the effects of climate change. 

Could cultivating the humble cashew nut be the answer to a more sustainable future? 

Cashews – an ideal climate resilient cash crop

Africa produces more than half of global raw cashew nuts and the cashew industry is booming. Neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire is the world leader in cashew production, but cashew cultivation is relatively new in Liberia. 

As the cashew tree thrives in dry conditions, it’s perfect to use for reforestation in West Africa. Being tall, the trees can also act as a wind break, stopping dry soil from blowing away and providing a refuge for birds and other animals whose droppings then enrich the soil. 

Its roots also spread horizontally, gripping the soil in place when short but intense rains hit, preventing soil from being washed away. What’s more, cashews have a tall evergreen canopy which can suppress forest fires that start on the ground, and the oil from the shell of the cashew nut is reported to be flame retardant. In short, it’s an ideal climate resilient cash crop. 

Switching snails and charcoal for cashews

With the support of the FFF, the Liberia Cashew Development Association (LCDA) recently trained 20 women including Jebbeh and 14 men of the Gbaigbon Cashew United for Change group in an alternative livelihood: cashew production. The group learned all the skills they needed for their new jobs, including how to establish and manage a nursery, and how to market and add value to their product. 

As a result of the training, the women have established a cashew nursery and cultivated 6,000 seedlings for transplanting and sale to interested community members. It will take two to three years from when the seedling is planted until the first cashew nuts can be harvested. But this profitable crop is set to make a big difference. 

Jebbeh Mansally is delighted with her new way of earning a living. “I took cashew products with me to the 2024 National Agriculture Fair and there was a lot of interest. Growing cashews is going to provide me with a more a reliable income which is kinder to the environment and will provide my family with a more secure future.” 

The LCDA has received funding from the FFF to develop a five year plan to guide its activities and growth. This includes strengthening cashew associations, providing training and education on the latest cashew farming techniques, and establishing more cashew nurseries. 

In a nutshell, cashew production in Liberia is set to go from strength to strength.