A tough nut to crack: The dark side of cashew nut production in Kenya
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Global demand for cashew nuts is exploding. Around the world, they're eaten as snacks, dairy replacements or used in cooking. In response, Kenya has been trying to revitalise the sector in the coastal region of Kilifi that once fed thousands. But in some factories, women face dangerous working conditions. Our correspondent Olivia Bizot reports.
Cashew nut production was vibrant in Kenya during the 1970s, but the collapse of the government-owned factory due to corruption paralysed the sector. In the past three years, foreign actors have been giving Kenya the financial boost it needs to get the sector back on its feet. The EU has promised to invest €2.2 million. The cashew industry now indirectly employs 50,000 people in the Kilifi region and is having a positive impact on those working in factories that have invested in the correct equipment.
But in other factories, mostly female workers are tasked with extracting the edible nut from the toxic shell by hand. Their skin is raw, blistered and swollen. Many are working without protective equipment in cramped and unhygienic conditions, earning an average of around €1 a day. Local authorities have now begun inspecting cashew nut facilities, even closing one down until it remedies its practices.
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