The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has advocated the diversification of the economy from oil to non-oil sector especially cashew which has the potential to enhance national planning and economic growth.
The Trade Promotion Advisor of NEPC Kogi Office, Mrs Amina Abdulmalik made this known in Kabba in a message at the 1-day training workshop for cashew farmers in Kogi state.
The training, organised by the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan, in collaboration with the Nigeria Export Promotion Council with the theme; Best Practices for Cashew Along the Value Chain.
Represented by the Assistant Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Mr Etuh Paul, Mrs Abdulmalik said if well harnessed, cashew has the capacity to generate billions of dollars for the country that would put it on steady economic growth.
She urged farmers and processors to register their companies and ensure proper documentation with the promotion council for easy exportation of cashew produce.
The Executive Director of Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Doctor Patrick Adebola said the essence of the workshop was to train the farmers on the use of good and cultural practices to improve the production of cashew.
According to him, the workshop is also aimed at training cashew farmers to produce quality products to attract higher economic value at the international market.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr David Apeh represented by the Director, Extension Services, Mr Gabriel Akoh described the theme as apt and the training workshop timely as it coincided with the harvesting period of the product.
The Commissioner tasked participants to put to practice lessons learned from the training to increase their yield and quality.
The Director, Training, CRIN, Doctor Sunday Oluremi Agbeniyi enjoined cashew farmers to adopt best practices to produce quality products to attract more value at the international market.
One of the participants at the workshop who was the former chairman of cashew farmers Association in the state, Mr Sule Ochala described the workshop as eye opener and promised to put into use the experience acquired.
Lectures were delivered by experts on Cashew from CRIN on Agronomic Practices for Improved Cashew Production, Postharvest Handling for Enhanced Cashew nut Quality, Pest and Disease Management for Sustainable Cashew Products and Value Addition for Improved Livelihood of Cashew Farmers.
