Nigeria, U.S. Sign MoU To Boost Cashew Production
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) West Africa Pro- Cashew Project, to boost cashew production.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Nanono, at the signing of the MoU, in Abuja, said that the event was another milestone in the record of the ministry’s history in its efforts to achieve national food and nutrition security, among others.
READ ALSO: See The Interview Exposing The Great Threat On The Existence Of Poultry Industry In Nigeria and the way out
Learn MoreNanono noted that the ministry over the years had achieved increase in the production of crops of strategic importance through the provision of improved seeds, seedlings and other farm inputs to farmers.
According to him, “However, today’s meeting focuses on the cashew value chain because of its importance in the sustenance of commodity export business for a sustainable development of a Cashew Agro- Industry.
” In Nigeria, cashew is increasing in its importance as an export crop since the 1990s. It is interesting to know that as the 2nd non- oil Export foreign earner for the country, cashew generated about 500 million dollars for the country in 2018 (CBN bulletin, in 2018), providing livelihood for 300,000 to 500,000 families, mostly youths and women in Nigeria.”
READ ALSO: Message from my mentor to all Farming Industry employees
” The National Production Capacity of Cashew in 2020 was 260, 000MT on 100, 000ha of land, average yield was 600kg/ha as against the global average of 1,230kg/ha potential area cultivable is about 350, 000ha,” he added.
The minister said that the overall objectives of the cashew value chain was to boost cashew production, expand the national hectareage, and rehabilitate existing old plantations which including to improve storage and processing capacity and develop effective market information system in the sector.
Nanono thanked the USDA West Africa PRO- Cashew Project, ”It is also heartwarming to note that in West Africa, Nigeria is selected alongside Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana for this laudable project.
”It is our hope however, that this intervention will result in the total transformation of the cashew sector in Nigeria,” he said.
The minister said to kick-start the collaboration with the USDA West Africa PRO- Cashew project, a Cashew Value Chain Working Committee was inaugurated to look into the problems and challenges that are affecting the growth of the value chain in the country adding that the Committee with support from USDA the West Africa PRO- Cashew project is to develop a 10-year strategic plan for Nigeria’s cashew value chain.
Click here to join World Farmers Centre Whatsapp group to get and read more articles like this
This News Post is Sponsored by HYBRID FEEDS, FEEDTECH 
To Sponsor or Advertise through a News Post, contact Ola on 07082418202
-Advertisement-
We do everything possible to supply quality information for farmers day in, day out and we are committed to keep doing this.
Your kind donation will help our continuous research efforts.
