Nigeria’s draft Cashew Road Map policy has been validated, paving the way for a formal cashew policy document aimed at transforming the sector into a strategic national asset.
The validation workshop was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, with participation from all value chain cashew stakeholders.
Giving the highlights of the roadmap, stakeholders said an immediate Cashew Project Office will be set up to put structures in place ahead of the President’s signature.
“We are looking at having Nigeria Cashew Board or National Cashew Development Council.
“This body will be governed by the two ministries and all stakeholders, they will be responsible for the determination of price,” the document stated.
Other key provisions validated include the ban of foreigners from going to buy raw Cashew Nut directly from the farm gate, the establishment of a Cashew Research Institute at Ochaja, Kogi State, and the imposition of tax levies on all exported raw Cashew Nut that will be used to support farmers.
The roadmap also seeks to make access to finance easier for farmers and other stakeholders, increase the number of local processors to compete with international exporters, and drive increased value chain addition in cashew processing at the rural level.
This will further create more jobs for the women and youth,” stakeholders noted.
In a goodwill message at the Nigeria Cashew Roadmap Workshop in Abuja, the National President of the National Apex of Cashew Farmers, Processors and Marketing Cooperative Ltd, Yunusa Gabriel Enemali, said farmers are ready to drive the transformation.
“Today, I want to assure you that the farmers are ready and we have an opportunity to shape a roadmap that places the farmer at the center of Nigeria’s cashew transformation.
“Cashew is no longer just a cash crop; it is a strategic national asset capable of creating jobs, increasing export earnings, strengthening rural livelihoods and supporting economic diversification,” he said.
Enemali noted that in less than two years, the cooperative has moved from institution building to measurable impact.
“We have established a growing national cooperative presence across 10 states +, digitally mapped over 1,387 farmers and 1,400 hectares of polygons in Kogi State with 100% quality assurance, ensuring every farm is GPS-tagged, NIN-verified and EUDR-ready,”
He added that the cooperative has “trained professional enumerators and key activators, developed a digital system capable of scaling to one million farmers in the next few years to come; all thanks to our partner QFN CCC Netherlands.
“These achievements demonstrate that the farmers are ready, the structure is ready, and the time for partnership is now.”
The cooperative proposed three strategic priorities for the roadmap.
“First, strengthen production and quality by providing certified, climate-resilient seedlings, modern extension services and farmer training to improve productivity and competitiveness.
Second, promote domestic processing and value addition.
Exporting raw cashew means exporting jobs and income. Nigeria must create an enabling environment for local processing and agro-industrial investment.
Third, institutionalize farmer data and structured market access.
Reliable digital farmer registration, cooperative-led marketing systems and traceability are essential for EUDR compliance, access to finance, fair pricing and evidence-based planning,” Enemali stated.
He pledged the cooperative’s commitment to “building a national register of verified cashew farmers, promoting climate-smart agriculture and collaborating with government, development partners and the private sector to strengthen the entire value chain.”
Enemali cautioned that the roadmap must deliver real impact.
“This roadmap must not become another policy document.
“It must be a practical, well-funded blueprint with measurable outcomes that removes the middlemen who distorts prices, multiple taxation and levies and seeks to improve the lives of rural farmers, Processor and Marketers to position Nigeria among the world’s leading cashew producers.”
He concluded: “Together, let us build a Nigerian cashew industry that is productive, traceable, climate-resilient and globally competitive. Cashew Matters – because it is the Diamond from the Tree.
“”Long live The Cashew Cooperative and Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Source – Newsbreed
(vitalnewsngr.com)
