Cashew Farmers Reject Export Ban, Warn of Mass Poverty
The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has strongly opposed calls for restrictions on cashew exports, warning that such measures would push millions of smallholder farmers into poverty.
In a statement issued on Thursday, NCAN President, Dr. Ojo Ajanaku, described the proposal as counterproductive, stressing that it would undermine years of effort by cashew farmers, processors, and exporters to build the industry.
“Cashew farmers are the backbone of the industry. Any export ban or disguised restriction will depress farm-gate prices and impoverish millions of smallholder farmers, directly contradicting the Federal Government’s agricultural diversification and poverty alleviation agenda,” Ajanaku said.
He maintained that the real challenges facing local processors include high energy costs, limited access to affordable financing, and poor infrastructure—not the export of raw cashew nuts.
According to him, government agencies such as the Bank of Industry (BoI), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) already have financing mechanisms to support processors. He proposed the creation of Special Agro-Processing Loans (SAP-Loans) at single-digit interest rates to make local processing more competitive.
Ajanaku further cautioned that an export ban would violate Nigeria’s obligations under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), discourage investment, and fuel smuggling.
To strengthen data management in the sector, NCAN has launched the Farmers Mapper App, designed to provide real-time statistics for transparent planning and policy implementation.
Reaffirming NCAN’s commitment to both farmer protection and sustainable industrial growth, Ajanaku said: “Processors are partners, not adversaries, but industrial growth must be driven by government-backed incentives and innovation—not by punishing the very farmers who sustain Nigeria’s cashew economy.”
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