NCAN Opposes Raw Cashew Export Ban, Warns of Job Losses

The Nigerian Cashew Association (NCAN) has expressed strong opposition to the proposed ban on the export of raw cashew nuts, stating that such a policy could threaten five million jobs and destabilize the country's cashew industry. During an extraordinary general meeting in Abuja, NCAN President Dr.

Ojo Joseph Ajanaku highlighted that the policy would adversely affect smallholder farmers who are already grappling with high production and logistics costs. He noted that Nigeria's cashew production has significantly declined from 700,000 metric tons to between 350,000 and 400,000 metric tons annually, falling behind competitors like Côte d'Ivoire.

Ajanaku warned that restricting farmers' ability to sell in competitive markets would reverse recent gains and urged the federal government to adopt a balanced approach that supports local processors and incentivizes them with lower interest loans. He also dismissed claims of a leadership crisis within NCAN, attributing it to external interference related to policy disagreements.