By Salawu Nneka Patience
The Kogi State Government has commenced moves to establish a cashew processing plant in the state as part of efforts to boost value addition, attract investment and increase the economic contribution of the crop to the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Timothy Ojoma, disclosed this in Lokoja during a meeting with executives of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Kogi State Chapter.
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Ojoma said discussions were ongoing with relevant government agencies and private investors towards establishing a plant that would commence with semi-processing and eventually expand to full-scale industrial operations.
He said the initiative was aimed at moving the state beyond the production and sale of raw cashew nuts and positioning Kogi as a major player in Nigeria’s cashew-processing industry.
The Commissioner commended NCAN for its efforts in organising farmers and promoting the development of the cashew value chain, describing the crop as one of the state’s most promising non-oil agricultural commodities.
He said the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo had continued to prioritise agriculture as a key component of its economic development agenda, particularly through crop diversification, rural infrastructure and youth participation in agribusiness.
According to him, the state government is also working to attract investors who will partner with farmers and cooperatives to improve production, processing and marketing.
Ojoma urged NCAN to take advantage of programmes and initiatives of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security as well as the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, saying collaboration with relevant national institutions would strengthen the state’s agricultural policies and create opportunities for value addition.
He also called on farmers to avoid unauthorised dealings with foreign buyers and ensure that transactions are conducted through approved channels.
On access to finance, the Commissioner disclosed that the ministry was exploring partnerships with the Central Bank of Nigeria and commercial banks to create a dedicated financing window for cashew farmers.
He said the proposed arrangement would enable farmers to access loans at single-digit interest rates to purchase equipment, expand their farms and improve productivity.
Ojoma further disclosed that the state government was considering sponsoring one or two members of the association to attend international training programmes and trade fairs.
“The idea is for them to go out, learn modern processing and packaging, and come back to transfer that knowledge to our people. That is how we build capacity from within,” he said.
In his response, the Kogi State Chairman of NCAN, Alhaji Ichapi Muhammed Agala, who also serves as the association’s North-Central Youth Chairman, commended the state government for its support for the agricultural sector.
Agala said Kogi farmers account for more than 60 per cent of the state’s annual cashew production, arguing that proper investment in processing and value addition could translate the sector’s potential into significant revenue for the state.
“Every year, we produce above 60 per cent, and if that is converted to cash properly, it means a lot for our economy. But we need the government to listen to our concerns in the area of factory establishment and other investments that will help the state partner with us,” he said.
He commended the Commissioner for his visits to cashew-producing clusters but appealed for more targeted interventions, particularly in wet and dry processing, to enable farmers meet international quality standards.
According to him, establishing a functional processing plant would strengthen Kogi’s competitiveness with other cashew-producing states, including Oyo, Osun and Enugu, where value-addition facilities are already in operation.
The NCAN chairman also urged the government to expedite the process of facilitating loans through commercial banks, saying access to affordable finance would enable farmers acquire modern equipment and expand their production capacity.
He called for stronger collaboration among the NCAN national body, the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), the state Ministry of Agriculture and development partners to ensure that farmers’ interests are adequately reflected in agricultural policies.
Agala also appealed to the state government to increase sponsorship opportunities for farmers and association members to participate in international training programmes and gain exposure to modern practices in cashew production, processing and marketing.
At the end of the meeting, the Commissioner and the NCAN chairman agreed to establish a technical working committee to develop a proposal for the proposed processing plant and harmonise the association’s demands with the agricultural development agenda of the Ododo administration.
