By Doris Esa

The National Apex of Cashew Farmers, Processors and Marketing Cooperative Ltd. says it is focusing on enhancing the processing of raw cashew nuts to boost the country’s agribusiness by empowering rural cashew farmers, processors and marketers.

Mr Yunusa Enemali, President, National Apex of Cashew Farmers, Processors and Marketing Cooperative Ltd, stated this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

Enemali said that this would be done through collaborative efforts, capacity building and advocacy.

He said the cashew sector plays a vital role in poverty reduction among farmers and other actors as well as promoting diversification of agricultural education exports.

“Furthermore, the cashew industry provides opportunities for women and youth inclusion, and it enables the processing of other products from cashew for local consumption,” he said

Enemali said that the cashew sector in Nigeria has tremendous potential and value chain addition, especially at the rural communities.

“In spite of being one of the largest producers of cashew nuts in the world, our industry is hindered by limited access to finance and markets, inadequate infrastructure and technology,” he said.

Others he said are pest and disease management issues as well as lack of policy framework.

“Additionally, we face challenges related to quality research institutes, quality assurance, and standardisation.

“These challenges must be addressed to unlock the full potential of the cashew sector,” he said.

He said that the benefits of cashew sector are undeniable as it contributed to economic growth, wealth, and job creation while also increasing foreign earnings.

“The sector plays a vital role in poverty reduction among other actors, and it promotes diversification of agricultural education exports.

In his remarks, Mr Idris Sani, Federal Director of Cooperative, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, said that cashew has great and multiple economic value as it could be processed into juice, biscuits among others.

He said that there was need to increase the production of the commodity in view of its nutritional and economic value.

Mr Emmanuel Atama, Executive Secretary, National Cooperative Financing Agency of Nigeria, said that the cooperative aimed to boost cashew production and ensure crude method of production was replaced with refined method. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh