By Abdullahi Lukman
Kogi State cashew dealers have called for government intervention to stop foreigners from disrupting the local cashew value chain, citing concerns of exploitation, poverty, and insecurity.
The dealers argue that foreign interference is undermining local merchants and diminishing farmers’ incomes, which exacerbates poverty in the region.
The BOT Chairman of the Kogi Cashew Dealers Stakeholders Association, Baba Mohammed, complained of foreigners bypassing local merchants by buying directly from farmers, which distorts the value chain and deprives the local economy of added value.
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He expressed concern that this practice is pushing local farmers into extreme poverty, as the primary goal of these foreigners is to export cashews without contributing to the local economy.
Mohammed further revealed that the Kogi State Assembly has expedited a motion addressing this issue, directing the Ministry of Agriculture to intervene and protect local farmers’ livelihoods.
The dealers appealed to the government to enforce policies that ensure the cashew industry benefits local stakeholders and not foreign exploiters.
“We are asking the state government to intervene and stop foreigners from distorting the value chain,” said Mohammed,” complaining, “Their actions will reduce local farmers to extreme poverty, and we risk falling into a new form of colonization if this continues.”
He noted that Kogi State is particularly vulnerable, as foreign influence is not as prominent in other cashew-producing states like Oyo.
