Abuja, Jan. 23, 2026 (NAN) President of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Dr Ojo Ajanaku says Africa remains the world’s largest producer of cashew nuts, in spite of Nigeria’s decline from the top spot due to policy instability and sectoral neglect.
Ajanaku said this in Abuja during the 4th National Cashew Day/Conference, which brought together key stakeholders from across the value chain to discuss challenges and opportunities in Nigeria’s cashew industry.
He highlighted that Nigeria produced over 800,000 metric tonnes of cashew in 2010, making it the world’s leading producer at the time.
However, he noted that the country has since fallen to the sixth position globally due to inadequate government support, inconsistent policies, and neglect of the sector.
“As an association, we are working diligently to correct the wrongs of the past and reposition the Nigerian cashew industry for greater economic impact,” Ajanaku said.
The NCAN president stressed the importance of creating a unified platform where farmers, processors, exporters, and policymakers can engage regularly to tackle common industry challenges and promote sustainable growth.
“When I assumed office, it was clear that we needed a forum where all stakeholders with shared interests could come together to address the issues affecting the industry,” he explained.
“This conference is designed to rotate across different states to deepen its impact at the grassroots.
“We were in Enugu in 2024, we will be in Lagos in 2025, and today, we are here in Abuja.”
Ajanaku also traced the history of the industry, noting that cashew was introduced to Nigeria during the tenure of the former Premier of the Eastern Region, Dr Michael Okpara, primarily to control soil erosion.
“What began as an erosion-control crop has today evolved into a major export commodity capable of earning Nigeria significant foreign exchange,” he said.
He emphasised that Africa’s dominance in global cashew production is no accident, saying that Nigeria stands out on the continent in terms of production capacity and potential.
The NCAN president urged the Federal Government to strengthen policy consistency, support value addition, and improve coordination within the sector to enable cashews to contribute more meaningfully to Nigeria’s economy.
In her address, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment (FMITI), commended the association for its sustained efforts in advancing the cashew sector.
Oduwole said the celebration of National Cashew Day, with the theme, “Transforming the Nigerian Cashew Industry through Investment, Innovation, and Trade”, was an opportunity to reflect on past achievements and reaffirm the collective commitment to transforming the sector for the benefit of all Nigerians.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister, Mrs Hajara Usman highlighted that the Nigerian cashew industry remains a key economic player with deep agricultural roots spanning several decades.
She pointed out that Nigeria currently ranks among the world’s leading producers of raw cashew nuts, with significant annual output, underscoring the sector’s potential to drive economic growth, create jobs, and boost non-oil exports.
Alh. Sherif Balogun, President of the Federation of Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN), stressed the need for value addition in cashew production and processing.
“Adding more value will position Nigeria’s cashew industry on the global stage, making cashew the biggest economic driver for Nigeria,” he said.
Mr Ibrahim Sanfo, President of the Africa Cashew Alliance (ACA), expressed the alliance’s commitment to collaborating with NCAN to develop the cashew sector.
“Africa is the world’s top producer of cashew, but our consumption is very low—less than one kilogramme per person.
“We are a huge market, like India, and we need to process and consume more of our own product.
“We are with NCAN to help them improve production and quality, and to increase processing for local consumption,” he said.
Sanfo also called for good policies to boost processing in Africa. “Our processing capacity is less than 10%, while we export 80-90 per cent of our produce.
“If we process more for local consumption, we need the government’s support to make that happen,” he added. (NAN)
