The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) aims to build a sustainable cashew industry. NCAN represents cashew farmers, traders, processors, exporters, and researchers. Nigeria produces about 120,000 tons of cashew annually across 19 states. Previously, poor post-harvest practices and packaging led to low quality cashews and prices. NCAN has since trained farmers, encouraged proper drying and packaging, and built relationships between the government and private sector. These efforts have improved cashew quality and prices for farmers. NCAN's projects now aim to further increase cashew production, value addition, jobs, farmer incomes, and contribution to Nigeria's GDP.

1. THE NIGERIAN CASHEW SECTOR
REPOSITIONING
BY
SOTONYE ANGA, NATIONAL CASHEW ASSOCIATION
OF NIGERIA
www.nationalcashewassociationofnig.org
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2. WHO IS NCAN?
 The National Cashew Associaton of Nigeria
(NCAN) is the umbrella body for the Nigerian
Cashew Industry. The main objective of NCAN
is to build a sustainable Nigerian cashew
industry for the benefit of all stakeholders in
the cashew value chain. Our members are:
cashew farmers, Traders, Processors,
Exporters, Researchers, and all Service
providers.
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3. COUNTRY OVERVIEW
• Nigeria, a Country in west Africa and Africa’s
most populous Country, has a population of
over 160 million people. Currently the nation
produces about 120,000 tons of cashew nuts
annually. Cashew in Nigeria is grown in 19
States namely: Kogi, Kwara, Enugu, Anambra,
Imo, Abia, Cross River, Edo, Nassarawa,
Benue, Taraba, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Delta,
Akwa Ibom, Niger and Osun. However, the
crop can grow in almost all parts of the
Country.
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4. HOW THINGS WERE
• Poor post harvest handling practices resulting
in cashew quality deterioration.
• Use of polypropylene bags in packing cashew
nuts.
• Heavily discounted prices for raw cashew
nuts.
• Weak relationship between Government and
private sector.
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5. WHAT WE DID
• Had several consultations with cashew stakeholders.
• Embarked on nation wide training of our farmers.
• Encouraged proper drying of raw cashew nuts.
• Discouraged the use of polypropylene bags.
• Encouraged the use of jute bags in packing our
cashew.
• Built a robust relationship between Government and
private sector(NCAN).
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6. NATIONAL CASHEW STAKEHOLDERS
MEETING
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7. 2012 CASHEW SEASON FLAG OFF
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8. THE RESULT
• Significant quality improvement of our
cashew.
• Improved price for Nigerian cashew and
better returns to our farmers.
• Better understanding by Government of the
challenges faced by stakeholders and a
solution jointly being worked out by NCAN
and Government for the overall growth and
development of the sector.
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9. SOME OF OUR PROJECTS
 SPECIAL CASHEW PRODUCTION(SCP) SCHEME.
 KOGI CASHEW CORRIDOR (KCC).
 NIGERIAN CASHEW INDUSTRY
TRANSFORMATION.
 10 BILLION NAIRA CASHEW INTERVENTION
FUND.
 NIGERIAN CASHEW MILLIONAIRE INITIATIVE.
All these projects are geared towards improving
performance of the Nigerian cashew Industry.
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10. THE GOOD NEWS
• THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA HAS
MADE FIRM COMMITMENT TO DEVELOP THE
CASHEW SECTOR.
• CASHEW HAS NOW GAINED THE STATUS OF A
NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION CROP.
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11. WHAT TO EXPECT
• INCREASED PRODUCTION OF CASHEW
ACROSS NIGERIA.
• INCREASED VALUE ADDITION TO CASHEW.
• MORE JOBS TO BE CREATED ACROSS THE
CASHEW VALUE CHAIN.
• IMPROVED INCOME FOR CASHEW FARMERS
• GREATER CONTRIBUTION OF CASHEW TO
NIGERIA’S GDP.
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12. THE END!!
THANK YOU!
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