In order to ensure that the country produces more of the commodity for local consumption and exports, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has embarked on a training program for cashew farmers in Imo State, thereby increasing both domestic and foreign exchange earnings.
NEPC, at the weekend, organized an intensive training for 100 cashew farmers in the state, being one of the cashew producing states, which accounts for over 1,000 metric tonnes of the produce annually and has also helped the country in achieving N41.27 billion annual revenue on cashew produce exports.
The programme, which took place at NEPC’s office in Owerri, Imo State capital, was aimed at preparing cashew farmers on proper commercial production and processing for the purpose of export with a view to earning greater foreign exchange and revenue locally.
The Executive Director of NEPC, Nonye Ayeni, said the training was necessary to consolidate efforts so far made in cashew production, processing and export.
Represented by the NEPC coordinator in Imo and national team lead on cashew, Anthony Ajuruchi, Ayeni said that Nigeria being the fourth in the world and Africa’s highest producer of cashew should maintain its lead.
Emphasizing NEPC’s mantra on cashew production and exports, which is tagged, “Doubling Our Exports for Economic Growth and Job Creation”, Ayeni said, “cashew holds a huge foreign exchange potential for Nigeria and we cannot afford not to double our efforts, and as the highest producer of cashew in Africa, we have the potential for unparalleled greatness and we must harness it, hence this workshop.”
He however said that NEPC might consider supply of improved seedlings to committed farmers in Imo as an incentive to encourage cashew farming, adding that multinational organizations such as the African Alliance and GIZ are prepared for holistic partnerships with Nigerian farmers on processing to enable them meet increasing demand.
In his own remarks, the pioneer president, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) and member, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the association, Sunday Uzoechi, implored the government at all levels to prioritize non-oil exports to revive the economy.
According to him, farmers, marketers and processors of cashew should recommit to its production for best results.
Chairman of NCAN in Imo, Simon Ezikeiheoma, said that a large production of cashew was ongoing in Okigwe, Okwudor and Awomamma areas of Imo State where there are large clusters, producing annually over 1000 metric tonnes of cashew.
