Nigeria’s cashew industry could generate enough revenue to sustain the country’s entire population of over 200 million people without the need for exports if properly developed, the President of the National Apex of Cashew Farmers, Processors and Marketing Cooperative Limited, Yunusa Enemali, has said.
 
Speaking on a television programme, Enemali decried the untapped potential of Nigeria’s cashew sector, which currently processes less than 10 per cent of its annual harvest while exporting the rest of the raw nuts to Vietnam and India.
 
He said cashew has over 40 by-products, with cashew nut shell liquid being the most expensive, valued between $70 and $90 per litre, while carbon credits from cashew farming range between $150 to $500, a benefit that Nigeria has yet to fully exploit.
 
According to Enemali, the Federal Government’s new roadmap for the cashew industry aims to transform Nigeria into a processing powerhouse that could inject $3.7 billion into the economy.
 
The Cashew Processors and Packagers Association represents over 20 factories with the capacity to process 374 tonnes of kernels daily. However, the processors struggle to access raw materials as most cashew nuts are exported, untreated.
 
The government’s strategy includes distributing improved seedlings, creating guaranteed markets for farmers and potentially establishing a dedicated cashew board.
 
“Over the years, farmers have invested time, money and energy with nothing to show for it. No support or incentive for the farmers,” Enemali lamented, stressing that Nigeria has been missing out on significant revenue by focusing solely on raw nut exports.

He regretted that farmers have resorted to borrowing money to maintain their farms, harvesting, selling and paying back debts in a continuous cycle. He listed numerous products that could be derived from cashew, including milk, jam, biscuits, shortcake, ethanol and brandy.
 
The cashew nut shell liquid, when further processed, can produce jet oil due to its high methane content, as well as paint, anti-rust products, brake fluid, hydraulics and pharmaceutical products, he said.
 
A major challenge facing the industry is the exploitation by middlemen who distort market prices. Enemali explained that middlemen collect payments from buyers but offer farmers significantly low prices, leaving farmers with no choice but to accept unfavourable deals.
 
“The middleman knows both the farmer and buyer. Let us say a kilogramme is N100 for instance, he takes that but tells the farmer that he receives N30,” he said.
 
Beyond economic gains, Enemali highlighted the environmental benefits of cashew farming, particularly in combating climate change and desertification. He noted that cashew trees can grow anywhere and contribute to carbon credit earnings while protecting the environment.

He expressed optimism about the government’s support, revealing ongoing discussions with the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) and plans for a national cashew cooperative summit where stakeholders would present their challenges to relevant institutions.
 
Enemali said the sector could generate between five and 15 million jobs if properly developed, emphasising the need for deliberate government interventions and stakeholder collaboration.