FG promises collaboration to boosting cashew productivity

 

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar ( C), on his right hand side,the President, Cashew Association of Nigeria, Hon. Ojo Ajanaku  and by his left, President of African Cashew Alliance, Otunoba Babatola Faseru, during the courtesy visit in Abuja.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar has reiterated the Ministry's commitment to collaborate with stakeholders in the cashew value chain towards high productivity. 

The Minister stated this in a statement issued by the ministry after the visit of the African Cashew Alliance (ACA) led by the president, Otunba Babatola Faseru in Abuja recently.

The statement had the minister saying that  "every single value chain in the agricultural sector is important and if they come together, they will make a big difference, in the area of food and nutrition security’’.

Speaking further, the Minister said that the ministry would continue to support cashew value chain, pointing out that, the ministry had trained smallholders farmers on Cashew production, processing and packaging of the Product.

He added that cashew had become a national commodity that grows across the 36 State of the Federation, pointing out that cocoa was second in terms of foreign exchange earnings to the economy.

The Minister in the statement  commended the Association for its plan for the  1st ACA conference in Abuja, saying  it would improve the produce value chain and attract investors.

The ACA President, Otunba Babatola Faseru said in the statement cashew as a produce has huge potential to create over 1000 jobs, as he solicited for the ministry's support that would positively affect the produce.

The president, Cashew Association of Nigeria, Hon. Ojo Ajanaku in the press release thanked the Minister for his support, noting that  Nigeria had about 600, 000 surviving cashew trees spread across the country.

Ajanaku in the statement stated that currently 75% to 80% of cashew nuts produced in Nigeria are exported pointing that only very few companies are involved in the local processing.