MAPUTO, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Mozambique's Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Robert Albino on Friday called for strengthening the country's cashew industry to expand employment, especially for young people and women.

Speaking at a meeting on the cashew value chain, Albino said the sector should become modern and competitive, and urged stakeholders to outline their needs so the government can improve the business environment.

The country plans to implement a 10-year cashew value chain development program (2025-2034), valued at more than 374 million U.S. dollars, to increase production, improve processing capacity and expand extension services nationwide, according to the ministry.

The program targets raising annual production from 158,000 to more than 689,000 tonnes and expanding processing capacity from 40,000 to over 482,000 tonnes, while advancing digitization across the sector.

"Industrializing cashew means creating more jobs for young people and women," Albino said, adding that reforms will include privatizing seedling production and nurseries to build a self-sustaining industry.

The meeting gathered producers, processors, exporters, traders, researchers and officials from relevant ministries and the tax authority. ■