The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has expressed serious concerns over what it describes as efforts by foreign interests to impose unfavorable policies on the country's cashew industry. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, NCAN President Dr. Ojo Ajanaku alleged that international actors are attempting to create a leadership crisis within the association after he resisted their push for policies that could negatively impact local farmers.
Dr. Ajanaku warned against any move that could lead the government to ban the export of raw cashew nuts, stating that such a policy would severely harm the livelihoods of millions of farmers and destabilize the sector. He noted that most Nigerian cashew farmers cultivate less than one hectare of land and already struggle with high production and logistics costs, leaving them with thin profit margins.
“Our farmers cannot be made to subsidize processing under any disguise. The only incentive for production is price. If you shut them out from accessing competitive markets, you are reducing their earnings,” he said. He recalled that a drop in cashew prices in 2017 led many farmers to cut down their trees, a trend the association had to reverse through sustained interventions. He warned that similar policy missteps could push the sector backward again.
Nigeria was once a global leader in cashew production, recording about 700,000 metric tonnes annually, but output has since declined to between 350,000 and 400,000 metric tonnes. Meanwhile, countries like Côte d’Ivoire have surged ahead with over one million metric tonnes. Dr. Ajanaku emphasized that while value addition is necessary, it must translate into improved income for farmers and be implemented sustainably. He highlighted challenges facing processors, including high interest rates on loans ranging between 25 and 35 percent, as well as rising energy costs, which make profitability difficult.
He called on the Federal Government to provide incentives, including low-interest agro-processing loans of between three and five percent, to support processors and enhance competitiveness without disadvantaging farmers. He added that the cashew industry currently employs over five million Nigerians, warning that restrictive policies could threaten these jobs while creating significantly fewer opportunities in processing.
On internal matters, Dr. Ajanaku dismissed claims of a leadership crisis within the association, attributing recent disputes to disagreements over policy directions. He confirmed the suspension of Board Chairman Sunday Ezendu-Uzo-Echi and his Secretary, Abraham Adeshida, while stating that another individual, Ademola Adesokan, remains expelled from the association for attempting to usurp powers from the leadership. He maintained that despite the disputes, the association remains stable and focused, noting that recent policy interventions, including a cashew procurement framework in Kogi State, have helped stabilize prices and curb market manipulation by foreign interests.
