The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has said that export of cashew nuts from the 2015 planting season had contributed about N50 billion to the economy. The association’s spokesman, Mr Sotonye Anga, told newsmen in Lagos that the sub-sector hitherto, contributed about N24 billion in 2013 and 2014.
Anga said the significant growth was because farmers did not compromise on the quality of cashew nuts resulting in increased demand for the produce. “For 2015, because of the significant growth in pricing and increased demand for Nigeria’s cashew, what the cashew sector contributed to the Nigerian economy is about N50 billion.
“That is an improvement in the export of raw cashew. Whereas in 2013 and 2014, the sub-sector contributed about N24 billion. This year, having made the N50 billion mark, the global expectation for the next season is going to increase. “This figure could be more but because of export through our porous borders we could not account for those ones,” he said.
The price of raw cashew nut per metric ton also recorded an increase, selling at N170, 000 during the 2015 season. The spokesman said that with the increase, farmers were ready to comply with high degree quality control procedure. “With the increased pricing that farmers recorded during the 2015 season, they are right now more ready to comply with high degree quality control procedure.
“Farmers’ compliance level has also increased. We want the market to remain sustainable, viable and strong,” he added. Anga said that preparations were underway for the 2016 cashew season, noting that cashew tree pruning and training was in progress across all cashew producing states. “The cashew sector is preparing for the next cashew season to commence within the next five months.
“What we are doing now is sensitising our members across the country on quality control to enable them to enhance their product quality. “Pruning of cashew trees are ongoing. We hope that with all of these, we will be able to have an increased annual production by at least an additional 30 to 40 per cent.
Cashew
“We are aggressively working nationwide to be able to have the best quality. Currently, we stand at 140 metric tons per annum,” he said.Anga said that cashew seeds were presently doing very well and more cashew plantations were being commissioned, especially in Kuje area of Abuja.
He told pressmen that buyers from India, Brazil, Vietnam and others were rest assured to have the best of cashew nut come next season. According to him, Brazil is currently having huge crop shortages which means that Nigeria cannot compromise its cashew quality.
He said the association was calling on government to provide additional support, adding that it was expensive to train and revamp old plantations.
“We need more of government involvement, especially in subsidising jute bags to maintain the quality and to eradicate the use of polythene bags and uphold the quality of our cashew. “So, together, we will be able to boost production across the 27 cashew producing states,” he said. Agency report
