Cashew prunes. Cashew butter. Cashew wine. Roasted cashew kernels, whole or split. These are the cashew processed and semi-processed products available for your picking at Nanay Chayong's Store in Brgy. Duale, Limay, Bataan. They are processed by Limay womenfolks led prominently by Mrs. Rosario Manalansan Villaviray, more popularly known as Nanay Chayong.


Delicious and highly nutritious, Nanay Chayong's cashew processed products are also sold at Aiza Sweets in Sta. Rita, Pampanga; Nery Mars' Delicacies and Tita's Pasalubong in San Fernando, Pampanga; and Abucay Café in Abucay, Bataan.


Among these cashew products, in great demand are the roasted split cashew kernels which cost P150-P200 for every half kilogram of the kernels depending on the month of the year. And unlike other commercially available kernels, Nanay Chayong's cashew kernels contain no itchy aftertaste.



Starting the business



Nanay Chayong's venture into cashew processing started in 1997 when she was chosen by the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension as its collaborator in its project on Cashew Integrated Processing Enterprise.


As collaborator, Nanay Chayong provided space for the processing plant. She also took care of the labor requirement and management of the cashew enterprise. BPRE provided technical assistance in securing a loan for processing equipment and facilities as well as marketing assistance.


Reminiscing those years, Nanay Chayong can't help but be teary-eyed. 'Hulog ng langit sa Limay ang BPRE. Dalawang taon kaming tinuruan ng BPRE sa pagproproseso at pagmamarket ng kasoy.' (BPRE is heaven-sent to Limay. When BPRE arrived, they taught us for two years to process and market cashew products).



Small-scale cashew processing



Most cashew farmers sell their products in raw form. To get maximum benefits from cashew production, however, small farmers must be encouraged to venture into small-scale cashew processing.


Nanay Chayong attests to the value-adding of cashew processing, 'Bago dumating ang BPRE sa Limay, P80 lang ang isang balde ng buto ng kasoy. Noong nagkaroon ng processing, P600 ang isang balde' (Before BPRE arrived in Limay, one pail of cashew nuts costs P80 only. When cashew processing was introduced, one pail of cashew nuts already costs P600).


Before, cashew apple was often left to rot on the ground when the nut has been detached or used merely as food for pigs and cattle. With the acquired knowledge in cashew processing from BPRE, Nanay Chayong processes cashew apples into prunes, wines and other products, adding value to the otherwise underutilized part of the cashew plant.


The small-scale processing business of Nanay Chayong in Limay, Bataan produces both processed and semi-processed cashew kernels. The major cashew nut processing operations include shelling, picking the cashew kernels from the shelled cashew, removal of testa, oven cooking and packaging.


The cashew nuts are shelled to produce whole nuts using the manually-operated BPRE cashew nut sheller. The cashew kernels, whether whole or split, are then picked from the shelled cashew nut. This is followed by the removal of the testa, the thin papery covering of the cashew kernels. Kernels are oven roasted. Finally, cashew kernels are packed for retailers and wholesalers.


Nanay Chayong's processing plant processes about 1,500 bags of cashew every year. This employs about 25 to 30 persons who shell, pick, and oven roast the cashew kernels. Nanay Chayong also contracts out testa removal to households in Limay because this process is the most laborious part of kernel processing. If improperly removed, the whole cashew kernel has the tendency to split. More or less 50 persons are contracted for testa removal.



Patrons of Nanay Chayong



Narciso Villviray, also known as Ising, the 34-year old son of Nanay Chayong who assists in the supervision of the cashew processing business, mentioned that almost 80 percent of the total processed cashew products of Nanay Chayong goes to the local market. Regular buyers are their market outlets in Sta. Rita and San Fernando, Pampanga and Abucay, Bataan. Wholesalers from Antipolo, Rizal also come to Bataan to buy their split cashew kernels.


Trade fairs are also good avenues for increasing the market viability of products and for acquiring potential buyers. Thus, Nanay Chayong's cashew processed products are regularly exhibited during trade fairs. Last year, Nanay Chayong and eight food processors in Bataan showcased their products at ShoeMart MegaMall in Mandaluyong City as part of the annual Likha ng Central Luzon Trade Fair.


It was in one of these trade events that Nanay Chayong met a Chinese exporter who now buys their whole and split cashew kernels for export to the United States.



Problems, blessings



Lack of capital for the purchase of more cashew nuts is the number one problem experienced by Nanay Chayong.


Blessings that pour in, however, answer their need temporarily. Among these blessings are the livelihood assistance received by Nanay Chayong from the local government of Limay, Bataan and the Office of the President


Mayor Nelson C. David of Limay, Bataan initially provided a P5,000 loan to Nanay Chayong to help her in the business. Nanay Chayong paid back the amount and again she was loaned P20,000, then P50,000. Being a good payor, Nanay Chayong was again able to get a livelihood assistance of P200,000 and then P500,000.


In 2004, Nanay Chayong also received a livelihood loan assistance from the 'Isang Bayan, Isang Produkto, Isang Milyong Piso Program' of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. This gave Nanay Chayong additional capital, a loan with five percent interest payable in five years.



Lessons learned



Nine years in the cashew processing business taught Nanay Chayong valuable lessons in life. Reflecting on her past, she says, 'Sa negosyong ito, kailangan ang sipag at tiyaga' (In this business, you need diligence and patience).


Faced with increasing competition, Ising who also takes charge of the marketing of Nanay Chayong's cashew processed products mentioned the importance of product quality and word of honor in dealing with customers. 'Minimaintain namin ang good quality ng aming produkto sa export man o lokal na pamilihan. Standard ito. Sa pakikipag-usap namin sa tao, kailangan ang word of honor, lalo na sa marketing ng kasoy.' (We maintain the good quality of our cashew products whether in the export or local market. This is standard. In talking with people, word of honor is necessary, especially in the marketing of cashew).


He revealed the secret of Nanay Chayong's success in the cashew processing business as follows: 'Magaling na pakikisama sa tao at magaling na produkto' (Good dealings with people and good quality product).


Nanay Chayong also has not lost sight of her mission in life to help others. A glimpse of her life story showed how she has been helping people. She had been Barangay Captain of Brgy. Duale, Limay, Bataan for 12 years and it was during her term that Brgy. Duale was considered a model barangay. She also served as President and General Manager of the Katubusan Multi-purpose Cooperative, Inc. in Limay, Bataan. Presently, she is the President of the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) in her municipality, and because of her accomplishments she was awarded Outstanding RIC Achiever by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Province of Bataan in November 2005.


Although some people are encouraging her to join the political arena, Nanay Chayong has no political plans. 'Gusto ko naman ialay ang natitirang taon ng buhay ko sa aking mga anak at apo'(I want to offer my remaining years in life for my children and grandchildren). Nanay Chayong has 10 children, all married, and 45 grand children.


Nanay Chayong confesses that her remaining dream in life is to see her children and grandchildren follow the path of righteousness. She also wants to continue the cashew processing business which she started with BPRE in 1997.


The 73-year old 2004 outstanding technology adopter of BPRE has these parting words: 'Maraming tao ang natutulungan ko dahil sa pagproproseso ng kasoy.. Gusto kong itaguyod ang gawaing ito' (I am able to help many people because of cashew processing. I hope to continue this endeavor).