Constructed with funding from the EU under the Boosting Agriculture and Food Security project, the factory provides a safe and hygienic environment for cashew processing and employs over 300 women and youth from the Waterloo Cashew Processors and Sellers Association.

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The factory, which was commissioned at a ceremony organized in Newton, Sierra Leone on Tuesday, March 26th, 2024 is estimated to process over 800  kilograms of raw cashew nuts daily and about 200 metric tonnes annually. The increase in production is expected to boost revenue for cashew farmers and processors and improve the cashew value chain in the country. The factory is upgradeable and its capacity can always be increased with additional equipment to increase production.

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Andrew Kojo Morrison, Country Representative for Solidaridad in Sierra Leone said the factory will enable cashew farmers and women processors to meet both local and international standards over time.

"With the establishment of the cashew processing factory, the women processors within the Waterloo enclave now transition from the old processing methods to a more hygienic environment, marking a crucial step towards a sustainable cashew value chain in Sierra Leone," Andrew stated.

The facility will also create direct linkages for farmers to sell their raw cashew nuts to processors.

Manuel Müller, Head of the EU Delegation to Sierra Leone, commended the efforts of Solidaridad West Africa and the Cotton Tree Foundation Sierra Leone in securing the Boosting Agriculture and Food Security (BAFS) grant to implement the project, highlighting the significance of the event in the development of Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector and emphasized the European Union’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening agriculture and improving livelihoods.

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He stated that the official commissioning of this state-of-the-art cashew processing factory signifies a significant milestone in the development of the value chain production in Sierra Leone.Furthermore, it exemplifies the ongoing partnership between the European Union and Sierra Leone, aimed at enhancing the country's agricultural sector and improving the lives of its citizens.“

The European Union acknowledges the pivotal role agriculture plays in Sierra Leone's economy, especially for rural communities. Through initiatives like the Boosting Agriculture and Food Security Program (BAFS), we endeavor to endorse sustainable agricultural practices, foster economic growth, and alleviate poverty and food insecurity.

He expressed gratitude to Solidaridad and the Cotton Tree Foundation for their successful implementation efforts and emphasized that the programme will offer hope and a promising future for many women. Through this initiative, women can increase their income while also boosting the availability of agricultural produce in the country.

Ambrose James, Director of the National Authorisation Office, remarked that the BAFS programme, initiated five years ago, initially focused on production and enabling farms and farmers to operate effectively.

"Now, we're advancing down the value chain, emphasizing production and value addition. We're pleased with the progress we've made so far," he stated.  "In the Cocoa, Coffee, and Cashew value chains, we're witnessing increased planting, processing, and value addition, ultimately leading to market distribution. These are the key outcomes we aim to achieve through this project."

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Dr. Musa Henry Kpaka, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Emphasized that the factory's capacity to process one metric ton of cashews daily, offering employment opportunities for 300 individuals, with a focus on empowering women and youth. The shift from traditional processing methods to safer alternatives marks a significant advancement for worker safety.

Highlighting cashew's pivotal role in the Feed Salone Strategy, Dr. Kpaka noted the sub-sector's growth, with extensive cultivation across the country. The factory serves as a cornerstone in the value chain, providing local producers with a platform to enhance their yields and income.

Kenyah Barley, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, highlighted a significant aspect of this program: its focus on empowering women.

 She emphasized that women play a central role in both the production and marketing of agricultural produce, underscoring the importance of their involvement.

"The BAFS programme aligns with the human capital development agenda," she explained. "By empowering women economically, we not only enable them to advocate for themselves and assert their own voices but also uplift the entire family. When a woman is empowered, she can better provide for her family."

The event also marked the official closeout of the  Boosting Agriculture and Food Security project (cashew, cocoa, coffee) implemented by Solidaridad West Africa and Cotton Tree Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the National Authorizing Organization, and other development partners from July 2019 to March 2024.

The project aimed to enhance cashew, cocoa, and coffee (CCC) productivity and rural incomes through tree crop diversification, agroforestry promotion, and support for trade and value addition.

Key results and achievement

• Under the project  7,818 smallholder farmers across 12 districts were empowered to adopt best agricultural practices, leading to increased production and 300 cashew processors
• These farmers also received extension services, resulting in the planting of improved varieties of cashew, coffee, and cocoa seedlings on 5,182 hectares: cocoa  610ha, cashew  4,441ha, and coffee 131ha.
• Additionally,  the project established over  200 Farmer Field Schools across Sierra Leone to train smallholder farmers in farm management practices and also created 280 Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) to ensure smallholder farmers have access to finances.
• Solidaridad, through the project, has enhanced the capacity of Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security staff nationwide in policy development, agronomic best practices, and climate-smart solutions. The project supported the design, printing and distribution of cocoa, coffee, and cashew policies, which provided a roadmap to enhance value chains in the tree crop sector.
• Building upon the established CCC policy, Solidaridad crafted condensed (abridged) versions tailored for easy comprehension and utilization by stakeholders, particularly MAFS block extension specialists.
• Solidaridad's efforts have facilitated extensive awareness of the CCC policies throughout the country via workshops, television, radio broadcasts, and radio jingles broadcasted in nine local languages.
• The capacity of 13 national NGOs and 3 CBOs engaged in the district level of the project implementation was enhanced through training, coaching and mentoring by Solidaridad.

Through the project many women and youth now own tree crop farms across the country.