Cashew growers across parts of the country have cautioned the Federal Government against moving ahead with plans to restrict the export of raw cashew nuts, saying such a policy could deepen hardship among rural farmers and weaken Nigeria’s growing non oil export base.
Speaking in Ilorin, Kwara State, leaders of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria from Oyo and Kwara states said the proposed legislation before the National Assembly risks undoing years of progress in the cashew value chain.
The association’s representatives, Salami Adebayo Tunde and Omotosho Theophilus Tunde, stressed that agriculture remains one of the few viable buffers against the uncertainty of the global oil market and should be protected rather than constrained.
They explained that their position followed deliberations held by the farmers’ wing of the association at a meeting in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, in mid December. According to them, any attempt to halt exports without first strengthening local processing would harm farmers and exporters who currently depend on access to international markets.
The farmers drew parallels with Nigeria’s experience in the petroleum sector, noting that the country continues to export crude oil while importing refined products, a situation that has long burdened citizens.
They warned that applying a similar approach to cashew would create artificial scarcity, lower farm gate prices and discourage production.
Rather than imposing restrictions, the association urged the government to invest directly in processing infrastructure.
They proposed the establishment of multiple functional processing plants in major producing states such as Oyo, Kwara and Kogi, where raw cashew is abundant and transport costs are lower.
They also highlighted the social impact of the proposed ban, particularly on young people who have embraced cashew farming and trading as a source of income. According to them, many youths have moved into agriculture as an alternative to crime and unemployment, and sudden policy shifts could reverse these gains.
Cashew exports, the farmers said, already generate foreign exchange and contribute meaningfully to local economies.
They argued that Nigerian exporters currently compete favourably with peers in other producing countries and that disrupting the flow of exports could erode trust with international buyers.
The association further alleged that vested interests may be influencing the proposed legislation, adding that policies affecting millions of farmers should be driven by national interest and not private gain.
They warned that Nigeria could gradually lose its position in the global cashew market if export restrictions are introduced prematurely, recalling how similar policies contributed to the decline of the country’s role in the shea nut trade.
Calling for a more inclusive approach, the farmers appealed to lawmakers to organise public hearings and consult widely before taking decisions that could reshape the sector.
They encouraged policymakers to study countries such as India, where deliberate investment in processing has boosted competitiveness without cutting farmers off from export markets.
Earlier, the national president of the association, Dr Ojo Ajanaku, had also expressed concern that an export ban could push millions of cashew farmers into poverty.
He emphasised the need for accessible agro processing loans at low interest rates to attract investors and expand modern processing facilities across the country.
Ajanaku added that without proper planning and engagement with stakeholders, discouraging exports would not achieve industrial growth but instead weaken farmer confidence and reduce Nigeria’s share of the global cashew trade.
