The Federal and the Lagos state Governments have pledged to support the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) to catalyze sustainability in the Nigerian cashew industry that been slowed down.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor gave the assurance while speaking on Friday in Lagos at the third edition of Nigeria Cashew Day with the theme; ‘Catalysing Sustainability in Nigeria Cashew Industry’.
The Governor who was represented by Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Agriculture and Food Systems said his administration is committed to providing the necessary infrastructure, facilitating access to markets, and creating policies that will drive innovation and investment in the cashew sector. We also encourage the adoption of sustainable practices that will preserve the environment while maximizing productivity.
“Together, we can strengthen the cashew value chain, enhance production, encourage local processing, and ensure that our farmers receive fair returns for their efforts.
Sanwo-Olu also noted that over the years, NCAN has achieved remarkable success in transforming the Nigerian cashew industry into a beacon of hope for economic diversification and raw material to many industries.
“Your commitment to fostering sustainable practices, increasing cashew exports, and creating job opportunities has solidified Nigeria’s position as a leading player in the global cashew market.
Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment while speaking at the event said that the country is undoubtedly blessed with huge cashew resources even as Cashew is produced in commercial quantities in about 18 States.Advertisement
Oduwole who was represented at the event by Akeredolu Toyin Johnson, an official in the Ministry said that Nigeria has a large labour force and good climatic condition which support cashew production; research organizations and institutes which are positioned to support innovation, research and development, for both primary production and products development, huge population with the propensity for creating a robust domestic market among others.
She pointed out that the Ministry is sustaining her efforts and also, working closely with NCAN and other relevant agencies of government and the organized private sector towards creating a robust cashew sector that delivers globally competitive value-added products in one hand, while striving also, to secure high profits for all actors through right programmes and activities aimed at enhancing the respective value chain particularly, value addition and products development.
Dr. Ojo Ajanaku, National President, NCAN while speaking said that the programme signals the beginning of new cashew season and that it is also a day set aside to promote and to bring cashew and its potential into the minds of all Nigerians.
He expressed concern over the significant decline in Nigeria’s cashew production, stressing that Nigeria, once Africa’s leading cashew producer, has drastically dropped in the global rankings.
On how to reverse the trend, he said that the association is encouraging producers to produce more.
He noted that NCAN has also engaged some development partners to support in setting cashew nursery across the country.
“We have a particular variety that is very popular, which is the Ogbomosho variety and we believe that if we are able to spread this across the nation we will have a uniform product in Nigeria. We have also decided to engage nursery farms in Nigeria to produce more to increase our production in the country,” he added. He called for urgent measures to revive the sector and harness its vast economic potential.