One hundred Cashew farmers across Oyo state have been trained on ways to maximize the potentials of the fruit crop to boost the national economy.
The training was facilitated by the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in collaboration with the National Export Promotion Council.
The participants were educated on cashew planting, maintenance, treatment, preservation and ways to maximize its potential.
Speaking, the Executive Director, CRIN, Dr Patrick Adebola said the training was aimed at boosting farmers’ production and providing income for farmers and other stakeholders along the value chain in the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture in Oyo state, Adebisi Adeniyi said the state government was eagerly seeking the collaboration of investors to develop moribund juice companies to maximize the potential of fruits including cashew.
In a message through the General Manager, Tree Crop Development Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Rev.Yemi Adeyinka, Adeniyi implored all stakeholders to support the state agricultural initiative to bring the state into an enviable position in cashew production.
“In Oyo State, cashew is among the economy tree crops that generate income to farmers and revenue to the state, however, to maximize the impact of cashew on the economy of the state, it is ideal to focus on the production of cashew under the best Agricultural Practices along the value chain with emphasis on cultivation carried out by the farmers who are the focus of this training, to encourage the production of better quality and quantity cashew products that will attract better market and industries to the state”.
“Although, Oyo State ranks number 4, in cashew production in the country and with the best cashew products in the world, Poor information about good Agricultural and Business Practices, Low yield, Poor access to good planting materials and smuggling of cashew to neighbouring states for grading among others”.
“However, the state government is working round the clock to improve cashew production in the state through the distribution of rood inputs and planting materials yearly to farmers at subsidized prices. The state government is also engaged in other various Agricultural Intervention Programmes like training of youths in Agricultural Business through Oyo State Agricultural Development Agency, (OYSADA). The state is also partnering with West Africa Cashew Project (PRO cashew) that is being funded by the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) in part of cashew producing areas of the state.” The commissioner submitted.
Also speaking, Trade Promotion Advisor, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Ibadan Export Assistance Office, Mrs Bolanle Emmanuel said NEPC had a mandate of collaborating with other relevant agencies to empower farmers on value addition to make their products acceptable in the international market.
She maintained that the council was aware that cashew farmers lacked the skills to make their products meet international standards, hence the need for time to time training and retraining.
“Over the years, we have noticed that farmers don’t have the expertise to process it into other products, what they are interested in, is just the nut, but beyond the nuts, we have other things like cashew juice, oil, and butter, exporting alone, we have wasted other products,” Mrs Emmanuel said”.
Chairman, Cashew Nuts Association in Oyo state, Alhaji Kamarudeen Alagbe said cashew production in the state was facing a lot of challenges, calling on the government to focus more on its production to boost the national economy.
Some of the farmers described the training as an eye-opener, imploring the government to always create avenues for farmers to acquire more knowledge in their area of specialization.
Adedayo Adelowo
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