African
Cashew Alliance (ACA) says over 344, 000 new jobs and 75 million dollars
additional revenue could come from the Nigeria’s cashew processing industry, if
properly harnessed. Mr Sunil Dahiya, the ACA Business Development Manager, said
this on Monday in Ilorin at the opening of a two day-workshop on “Cashew
Business Competitiveness and Environmental Sustainability”. The workshop is
co-sponsored by USAID Nigeria, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) ACA, in
partnership with the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN).
“The
commercial production of cashew in Nigeria currently values approximately 160
million dollars and supports the livelihood of over one million people.”
“Only about 20 per cent of the raw cashew nuts produced in
the country were processed into kernels.
“An
increase of 20 per cent within Nigeria’s processing industry can create more
than 344, 000 new jobs and generate over 75 million-dollar of additional
revenue.”
He said that Nigeria ranked sixth in global cashew production, adding that if properly harnessed, the cashew industry in the country had the potential to bring about great economic success.
Dahiya
expressed regret that in spite of the enormous economic potential of cashew,
the processing industry in the country faced many challenges.
“Business
competitiveness and environmental sustainability are crucial to the future
success of the Nigerian cashew sector.
“Cashew
processing generates a significant amount of waste throughout the processing
stages.
“This
pollution represents a serious threat to the competitiveness of the local
processors.”
The
manager said that the ACA was determined not only to improve the
competitiveness and sustainability of the African cashew industry, but also
increase the processing of the commodity on the continent.
“Our
objective is to facilitate the development of an industry that benefits the
entire value chain, from farmer to consumer by sharing information and best
practices among stakeholders.”
He
said ACA had also been providing technical assistance, facilitating investments
and promoting international standard and market linkages.
In
his own remarks, Mr Segun Awolowo, the Executive Director/ CEO, Nigerian Export
Promotion Council (NEPC), said that cashew nut export was a significant
contributor to Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
Awolowo,
speaking through Chief William Ezeagu, the Deputy Director, Product Development
Department of the council, also said that the cashew industry had the potential
to generate economic growth through wealth creation. According to him, the potential
of the commodity necessitated its inclusion among the National Strategic Export
Products (NSEP) because of its foreign exchange earning potential