By Abdullahi Lukman
The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has commenced the distribution of over 120,000 cashew seedlings to farmers nationwide as part of efforts to upscale Nigeria’s cashew exports and enhance non-oil revenue.
NCAN President, Dr. Ojo Ajanaku, said the seedlings are from the highly valued Ogbomosho (Oyo State) variety, known for early maturity and global market demand.
“This is a uniform, high-yield variety that matures by the third year and is sought after by processors and exporters,” he noted.
Ajanaku said the distribution is already ongoing across seven states: Benue (20,000), Kogi (20,000), Edo (40,000), Kwara (20,000), Oyo (30,000), and Enugu (50,000).
The initiative also received 45,000 additional seedlings from Beyond Farming Collective. NCAN aims to reach a total of 300,000 seedlings.
Despite the scale, he lamented, the project has received no external funding, disclosing that it is being financed through NCAN’s internal ticketing system, which collects small transport fees from members.
“We’re using our resources to support the nursery and give back to our farmers,” Ajanaku said.
He expressed optimism about Nigeria’s potential to reach 2 million metric tonnes in annual cashew production, citing the crop’s export potential and minimal local consumption due to competition with groundnuts.
Such a boost, he added, would significantly improve Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
Ajanaku called on government agencies like the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), and the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) to partner with NCAN.
Despite outreach efforts, he said the association has yet to receive a response.
He also linked agricultural expansion to improved security and job creation, emphasizing the need to convert Nigeria’s over 54 million hectares of unused land into productive farmland.
“Cashew is a perfect crop to help us do that,” he said.