Nigeria’s Cashew Industry Set to Shine: First National Cashew Cooperative Summit Kicks Off in Abuja
Naija CooperativeNews
The National Cashew Farmers, Processors, and Marketing Cooperative Ltd is gearing up to host the highly anticipated First National Cashew Cooperative Summit in Abuja, Nigeria. Scheduled to take place from August 13th to 15th, 2025, the summit promises to be a game-changer for the country’s cashew industry.
Unlocking the Potential of Cashew
Themed “The Importance of Cashew Crop to the Nation’s Economy,” the summit aims to bring together stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities in the sector. According to Yunusa Gabriel Enemali, President of the cooperative, “The cashew sector in Nigeria has tremendous potential and value chain addition, especially in rural communities.” Despite being one of the largest producers of cashew nuts globally, Nigeria’s industry faces significant challenges, including limited access to finance and markets, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of policy framework.
A Platform for Growth
The summit will provide a platform for stakeholders to showcase innovations, foster partnerships, and validate the draft Cashew Policy. Enemali expressed appreciation for the federal government’s support in revamping the cooperative movement, demonstrating their commitment to the growth and development of the cashew industry. The event is expected to attract stakeholders from across the country, including farmers, processors, marketers, government officials, policymakers, and carbon credit creators.
Empowering Rural Communities
The cashew industry has multiple economic benefits, including generating employment, increasing income for farmers, and earning foreign exchange for the nation. By processing cashews locally, Nigeria can create around 250-300 jobs for every thousand metric tonnes exported, reducing the number of jobs exported and increasing the value of the product. The summit aims to empower rural cashew farmers, processors, and marketers through collaborative efforts, capacity building, and advocacy.
Government Support
The Federal Director of Cooperatives, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), Idris Ali Sani, emphasized the importance of registering cashew farmers as a cooperative body to access support from the government and international partners. The NAIC is working with cashew farmers to identify and sensitise them to register as a cooperative body, which will provide recognition and support for their activities.
A Bright Future
The Chief Executive Officer/Executive Secretary of Cooperatives Financing, Emmanuel Attama, expressed NAIC’s commitment to supporting the cashew industry through cooperative efforts. He highlighted the importance of partnership and solidarity in developing the value chain and providing inclusion for farmers. Attama emphasized that the cooperative model puts power in the hands of cashew farmers, enabling them to develop their industry. With government support and investment in the sector, Nigeria can increase processing and export of cashews, thereby growing jobs and revenue. The First National Cashew Cooperative Summit is a significant step towards unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s cashew industry and empowering rural communities.
