By Francis Ogwo
About ten thousand tons of cashew nuts will be distributed to Edo North farmers within four years.
This was made public on Wednesday in Benin by the Chairman of the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN), Edo State chapter, Mr. Enahoro Ojiefoh.
According to Ojiefoh, cashew nuts are in high demand globally while urging Edo farmers to cash in on the opportunity and make wealth from its production.
Ojiefoh said: “There are more than one hundred persons buying cashew nuts from Ogbomosho and the farming of cashews started this year at the rate of 350 per metric tons. What is the value of Cashews for the export market?
“Cashew is a darling plant for every investor because for example, the money you are investing in the palm oil plants, you don’t invest 50 percent of such money in cashews.
“And if you put Palm Oil together, the shalf, nuts, they are not equal to the value of cashews nuts.
“Cashews can stay on its own for many years and don’t need care like cocoa and Palm Oil plants
“So, what we are doing in FACAN, is to bring in investors and farmers together and tell them the value of Cashew nuts.
“Edo North is already typing into this opportunity. The last time is Leventist Farm, we were able to get some cashew nuts from them. This year, FACAN is also moving ahead in targeting ten thousand tons of Cashew nuts to be distributed to farmers in Edo North for free within four years.”
Speaking further, the state chairman of FACAN further said the state was blessed with vast land which should be put into good use for agricultural purposes just as he pleaded with the state government to collaborate with the body so that there could be enough farm produce to be exported internationally adding that the state does not have enough farm produce to be exported.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Wealth Creation, Cooperative and Employment, Mr Edionwe Joel, in his earlier remark had commended FACAN for keying into the state government’s policy of job creation.
