INTRODUCTION:
In Nigeria, Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.), is increasing in its importance as an
export oriented cash crop since 1990’s. It is becoming an important source of
non-oil export earnings. Cashew was introduced into Nigeria as well as other
part of Africa in the fifties of 16th century by Portuguese as a
mean of checking coastal erosion. The commercial production of cashew in
Nigeria was started in the early 1950’s by the Eastern Nigeria Development
Corporation (ENDC) and the Western Nigeria Development Corporation (WNDC) but
not much progress was made in the industry due to neglect and poor management
level applied to the crop. Currently Cashew is cultivated in 27 states of
Nigeria, including Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The producing states
includes Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Borno, Cross Rivers, Delta,
Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos,
Nassarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba, Zamfara and FCT.
 |
| Red and Yellow Cashew Apple |
The current national production is estimated at 121,000t on
100,000ha. Average yield is estimated at 350kg/ha while the global average is
about 1,230kg/ha.Jumbo
variety seeds through Contract Agreement with Cocoa Research Institute of
Nigeria (CRIN), Establishment of 1ha bud-wood garden for production of grafted
seedlings through Contract Agreement with Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria
CRIN, Capacity Building on grafting and Vegetative Propagation of Seedlings and
Nursery/ Plantation Development for 50 Farmers through Contract Agreement by
College of Agriculture Kabba Kogi State Nigeria, National Workshop on quality
standards and norms for competitiveness for 50 Processors and Farmers through
Contract Agreement by College of Agriculture Kabba Kogi State Nigeria, Procurement
of 200bales Carbon Free Jute Bags for Raw Cashew Seed Storage, Procurement of
two (2) No. Medium Scale Cashew processing equipment for installation in Abia
and Ogun State and Distribution of 10,000kg Brazilian Jumbo variety seeds to 12
participating States (Abia, Benue, Cross Rivers, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kogi,
Kwara, Nassarawa, Ogun and Oyo) through GES (Each beneficiary farmer got 2kg
seed, 100kg 12:12:17 2Mg fertilizer and 2liters Glyphosate at 80%, 50% and 50%
subsidy respectively).diversification and mixed
farming etc.
The overall goal
of the Cashew Transformation Plan is to promote policies, human capacities and
technology for exploiting the huge potentials in the cashew industry. This will
among others raise production from 121,000t in 2012 to 250,000t in 2015 with
yield enhancement from 350kg/ha to 600kg/ha and processing capacity from 5% in
2012 to 50% in 2015. The primary objectives are to improve cashew productivity,
expand the national hectarge, rehabilitate old existing plantations, increase
and improve storage and processing capacity and develop effective market
information system in the sector. In harnessing the potentials of the cashew
subsector, some constraints have to be overcome, before national production is
competitive and becomes a source of greater revenues for the various
stakeholders. These constraints include among others, unselected and poor
quality planting materials, ageing plantations, poorly functioning stakeholder
organizations, lack of access to cashew-specific funding and inputs, low
plantation productivity, few incentives to invest in processing, absence of appropriate
credit and lack of reliable statistics.
 |
| Brazilian Jumbo Cashew Apple |
The Cashew transformation agenda
will drive development in the cashew subsector through the adoption of the BRAZILIAN JUMBO variety and other improved/clones,
better farm management practices as well as increased value addition in the
cashew exports such as job creation/employment, income generation and wealth
creation.
CASHEW
VALUE CHAIN STRATEGY
The
strategies adopted to address these constraints include; policy related
interventions, provision of improved planting materials (BRAZILIAN JUMBO variety and other improved/clones), rehabilitation
of old plantations, new plantings (BRAZILIAN
JUMBO variety), value addition/processing, improved market information and
support to research and development (Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria).
HIGHLIGHT OF ACHIEVEMENT
 |
| Cashew Plantation |
- · Advocacy Visit to the 18 Participating States: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross Rivers, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Nassarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and FCT.
- · Nation-Wide Mill Audit of Cashew Processing and Packaging Plants
- · Production of 10,000kg Brazilian Jumbo variety seeds through Contract Agreement with Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN).
- · Establishment of 1ha bud-wood garden for production of grafted seedlings through Contract Agreement with Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria CRIN
- · Capacity Building on grafting and Vegetative Propagation of Seedlings and Nursery/ Plantation Development for 50 Farmers through Contract Agreement by College of Agriculture Kabba Kogi State Nigeri
- · Procurement of two (2) No. Medium Scale Cashew processing equipment for installation in Abia and Ogun State.
- · Distribution of 10,000kg Brazilian Jumbo variety seeds to 12 participating States (Abia, Benue, Cross Rivers, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Nassarawa, Ogun and Oyo) through GES (Each beneficiary farmer got 2kg seed, 100kg 12:12:17 2Mg fertilizer and 2liters Glyphosate at 80%, 50% and 50% subsidy respectively).
NATIONAL CASHEW FARMERS DATABASE
An important strategic pillar of the Cashew
Transformation Agenda is the creation and maintenance of database of cashew
farmers in the producing State of Nigeria. This database is linked to the
National Farmers Database Platform which provides basis for planning and
implementation of the Growth Enhancement Support for Cashew Farmers
(Cashew-GES). During the project year, tremendous effort was deployed to
mobilize cashew farmers and association to get cashew farmers registered. As at
November 2013, at least 5,897 had being captured and registration is still
on-going.
ADVOCACY/SENSITIZATION VISITS TO PARTICIPATING
STATES.
The Cashew Value
Chain carried out advocacy/Sensitization visits to 18 Cashew producing States
from 19th-25th June, 2013. The purpose of the visits was
to generate data and information for further planning in the cashew industry.
The 5,897 registered farmers’ data base is one of the benefits of the
advocacy/sensitization visits.
STAKEHOLDERS FORUM.
The second
stakeholders’ forum was held at the Balmoral, 98 Kudirat Abiola way, Oregun,
Ikeja, Lagos. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the performance of the
Cashew Industry and the review of the draft action plan for the Cashew Value
Chain implementation in 2013.
The National mill audit
was carried out to access the processing plants/equipment and their capacities.
The exercise was conducted in Abia, Enugu,Kogi, Kwara, Kaduna, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun
and Lagos states.
The processors were
categorized into small scale (parkers), medium and large scale. A good number of jobs especially for
youths and women are being created through processing of cashew nuts.
 |
| Roasted cashew nuts |
Processed cashew nuts
LIST AND CLASS OF CASHEW PROCESSORS IN NIGERIA
S/No |
State
|
No of Processors
|
Class
of Processors
|
|||
Small Scale
(Parkers)
|
Medium Scale
|
Large Scale
|
||||
1
|
Kwara
|
2
|
1 (Abod Success)
|
-
|
1 (Olam)
|
|
2
|
Kogi
|
2
|
1
|
-
|
1 (KSU)
|
|
3
|
Kaduna
|
1
|
-
|
1 (Riched)
|
-
|
|
4
|
Ogun
|
2
|
1
|
-
|
1 (Abod Success)
|
|
5
|
Ondo
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
1 (Jof
Ideal Farms)
|
|
6
|
Enugu
|
30
|
25
|
3
|
2
|
|
