Nigeria Targets 3900% Increase in Cashew Output

By Crusoe Osagie
As one of its strategies to increase the volume of non-oil exports in the country and diversify the nation’s economy, Nigeria is currently targeting an increase of cashew output of up to 3,900 per cent in the next few years.

THISDAY learnt that to achieve this end, the Bank of Industry (BOI) is partnering the African Cashew Alliance (ACA) to increase the production of cashew nuts in the country from 10,000 tonnes to 400,000 tonnes per annum.

The two bodies formed a strategic partnership with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), to achieve the increase in cashew output that will boost the non-oil sector.

Speaking during a courtesy visit of the Executive of African Cashew Alliance (ACA) to the BOI in Lagos, the President, ACA, Mr. Idrissi Kilangi, said at the moment, Cote d'Ivoire has the highest production volume in Africa, with 350,000 tonnes per annum.
He said Nigeria has the potentials of producing over 400,000 tonnes per annum, adding that ACA, in partnership with BOI, will work together to ensure that the country meet the record.

He said the Asian countries are the highest producers of the product but added that there is a challenge because their production has been exhausted creating a huge market for the product.

"With all the resources, potentials, Nigeria can produce 400,000 tonnes every year. This is what we, in conjunction with the BOI, will look into. At the moment, the Asians countries that have the highest volume can no longer meet up because their production has been exhausted. So this is the reason why the world is focusing on Africa, most especially Nigeria, “he said.

Kilangi said cashew nut is the major answer to the development of the non-oil sector, adding that government has neglected it for too long. He said cashew needs to be included in the agenda of the existing donor platforms and government plans.

"The African cashew industry has the potential to realise more than $300m in raw nut sales by smallholder farmers and $300m in added value from cashew processing, creating more than 200,000 new jobs for the poor in rural areas. The main measures to be taken include promoting cashew sector development as a priority in donor platform and in government investment," he said.

The Executive Director, Operation, BOI, Mr. Mohammed Alkali, said the bank was ready to support the production of the product, maintaining that that it would create adequate fund for the production.

He said cashew production is one of the areas BOI is encouraging farmers to look into. His words: “We have been there from the beginning and we are ready to work with you so as to make it work. One of our mandates is to promote the non-oil export sector and we are expected to evolve strategies for addressing production, processing and marketing problems in the cashew businesses."

Mohammed explained that the move was initiated not only to boost the foreign exchange earning capacity of the commodity, but due to the fact that cashew cultivation and processing for export has potentials to create jobs, especially for poor rural women.

According to him, Nigeria is the 6th largest producer of cashew in the world after India, Brazil, Vietnam, Guinea Bissau and Tanzania, pointing out that like most African producers, most of Nigeria’s production is exported in raw form to India and Vietnam for processing and export, with added value and benefits to those economies.

“Vietnam, for example entered the field of cashew production for export in the early 80's about the same time Nigerians became aware of the commercial significance of cashew,” he said.

Source: http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nigeria-targets-3900-increase-in-cashew-output/104267/