Federal Director of Cooperatives, Idris Ali Sani, has called on cashew farmers across Nigeria to register formal cooperatives in order to benefit from the government’s support programmes.
He made the appeal during a media briefing held in Abuja by the National Apex Cashew Farmers, Processors, and Marketing Cooperative.
According to him, registering cooperatives is the first step for farmers to access finance, technology, and capacity development support from the government and development partners.
Sani explained that bringing cashew farmers together under structured cooperatives would give them visibility and recognition, allowing them to benefit from policy interventions and external assistance.
He noted that individual smallholders may struggle to attract support on their own, but organised groups stand a better chance of accessing funding and technical resources.
He added that cooperatives could help farmers build leadership structures, enhance productivity, and participate meaningfully in the value chain.
Sani further highlighted the economic potential of the cashew sector.
He described cashew as an economic tree with the capacity to uplift rural livelihoods and contribute to national growth. He said that Nigeria has already earned a place among the world’s top cashew producers, and that the crop can be developed into a range of products including juice and biscuits.
He encouraged stakeholders to prioritise local processing in order to expand opportunities in the sector.
Speaking at the same event, President of the National Cashew Cooperative, Yunusa Gabriel Enemali, noted that the sector holds strong prospects for driving Nigeria’s economic diversification.
He described cashew as a “diamond from the tree” and pointed out that despite the country’s high production levels, the industry continues to face challenges such as poor infrastructure, market limitations, and weak policy implementation.
Adding that inadequate research, pest control, and lack of standardisation also affect quality and growth in the sector.
Enemali observed that cashew farming is a source of income for many people, especially in rural areas, and emphasised that women and youth make up the majority of the sector’s workforce.
He announced that the First National Cashew Cooperative Summit will be held from August 13 to 15, 2025. The summit will bring together participants from across the country to discuss policy development, financing mechanisms, and strategies to strengthen the cashew value chain.
Also speaking at the event, Managing Director of the Cooperative Financing Agency, Emmanuel Attama, reaffirmed support for cashew farmers through a cooperative-led approach.
He explained that a cooperative development fund is already in place and the cashew farmers’ apex body is included among its beneficiaries.
Attama said the fund would provide farmers with access to markets, financial services, and essential welfare provisions such as health care and housing.
He stressed that smallholder farmers must be brought together to increase production and boost both local consumption and export.
