Muazu, represented by the Deputy Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Bernand Chukwuemeka, said cashew was among the top priority commodities being promoted by the ministry.He said that the promotion of cashew by the ministry was due to the commoditys enormous potentials for employment generation for youths and foreign exchange earnings.
The official said Nigerias current output is 175,000 metric tonnes on150,000 hectares with an average yield of 350 kilograms per hectare, against the global average yield of 1,230 kilograms per hectre.
Earlier, the Director, Cashew Research Department, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Dr. Ibiremo Samuel, said the Institute has a mandate for genetic improvement of cashew in Nigeria, adding that the institute had developed high yielding and early bearing cashew varieties, as well as protocols to prevent pest and diseases for cashew.
Ajanaku, represented by Stephen Malam, ex-officio, North-West Zone of NCAN appealed to the government at all levels to support the association in ensuring establishment of cashew orchards across the country.
