Cashew farmers in Nigeria have issued a stark warning to the Federal Government, stating that a proposed ban on the export of raw cashew nuts could plunge many into deeper poverty and cripple a vital non-oil sector. The farmers argue the move would repeat the errors of the crude oil industry.
Farmers Issue Strong Warning Against Proposed Legislation
Leaders of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) from Oyo and Kwara States, Messrs Salami Adebayo Tunde and Omotosho Theophilus Tunde, raised the alarm during a press briefing in Ilorin. They described a bill currently before the National Assembly as "anti-people" and damaging to national economic growth.
The farmers, speaking on behalf of the NCAN Farmers' Wing, emphasized that federal policies must serve the broader interests of Nigerians, particularly those seeking stable alternatives to the unpredictable global oil market.
Repeating the Mistakes of the Oil Sector
The core of their argument draws a direct parallel to Nigeria's troubled petroleum industry. They contend that banning exports without first establishing domestic processing capacity would doom the cashew sector to a similar fate.
"This would be like subjecting our sector to the same fate as Nigeria’s crude oil industry, where we export raw crude but import refined products despite having refineries," the farmers stated. They insist the government's focus should be on building functional processing factories in major producing states like Oyo, Kwara, and Kogi where raw materials are abundant.
Dire Consequences for Jobs and Foreign Exchange
The association highlighted the severe human and economic costs of the proposed ban. They warned it would jeopardize the livelihoods of thousands of youths who have turned to cashew farming and export, often as a positive alternative to crime.
Furthermore, they stressed that Nigerian cashew exporters are already making valuable contributions to the economy by earning foreign exchange. "Exporters now bring in dollars regularly, just like their counterparts in other cashew-producing countries," the leaders noted, arguing that this revenue stream would be destroyed by an ill-timed ban.
The farmers' renewed appeal calls for a policy shift towards development and value addition, rather than restrictive measures that could stifle growth and exacerbate poverty in rural communities.
