BREAKING NEWS, Business
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Cashew nut export has contributed more than N50 billion to the Nigerian economy this year, recording a double increase from the N24 billion it did in 2014 and 2015
| By Anayo Ezugwu | Aug 31, 2015 @ 01:00 GMT |
THE export of cashew nuts from the 2015 planting season in Nigeria had contributed more than N50 billion to the economy. The sub-sector also contributed more than N24 billion in 2013 and 2014 to the economy. Sotonye Anga, spokesman, National Cashew Association of Nigeria, NCAN, said the significant growth was because farmers did not compromise on the quality of cashew nuts resulting in increased demand for the produce. There is also increase in the price of the product during the period.
“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 tonne also recorded an increase, selling at N170, 000 during the 2015 season. According to him, “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,”
Already, farmers are preparing for the 2016 cashew season. “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 percent.
“We are aggressively working nationwide to be able to have the best quality. Currently, we stand at 140 metric tonnes 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.
According to him, 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 could not compromise its cashew quality. The association called on government to provide additional support to the farmers as it is 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.
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