The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has said the country produced about 120,000 metric tons of cashew nuts yearly. NCAN’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Sotonye Anga said in Lagos that the production was huge. Anga said that as a result of the production, there was the need for the federal government to strengthen the cashew value chain.
He, however, noted that an unaccounted amount of the production was exported illegally to neighbouring countries. “Nigeria produces about 120,000 tons of raw cashew nuts yearly and they are mainly exported as raw nuts to India and Vietnam. However, due to the porous nature of our borders, so much unaccounted for and illegal exported raw to neighbouring countries. This illegal trend of cashew export is also weakening the nation’s export potential of the crop,’’ Anga said.
He urged the Federal Government to strengthen the cashew value chain and industry to increase the income of cashew farmers and processors. Anga said that now was the right time to fund the cashew industry to improve marketing and export of cashew nuts.
“The thing is, if there is any agricultural commodity that needs government intervention, I think cashew should top the list. To strengthen the cashew value chain and industry will increase the income of our cashew farmers, traders, processors and exporters.
“Jobs can be created, poverty will be reduced and foreign exchange for the country will be better guaranteed,’’ he disclosed.
“We cannot as a nation fold our hands and watch our cashew wealth waste; that is why the first four letters of cashew is ‘CASH’. The time to invest heavily in boosting value addition to our cashew is now, we need support to boost cashew production, processing and marketing,’’ the NCAN’s spokesman said.
