The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has opposed calls for restrictions on raw cashew nut exports, arguing that such policies would harm smallholder farmers and discourage investment in the sector.
In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Joseph Ojo Ajanaku, NCAN said export bans or disguised restrictions would drive down farmgate prices, leaving millions of growers worse off. “Processors are partners, not adversaries. But industrial growth must be driven by incentives and innovation, not by punishing the very farmers who sustain Nigeria’s cashew economy,” the association noted.
While reaffirming support for domestic processing, NCAN maintained that the real challenges facing processors include high energy costs, poor infrastructure, and lack of affordable financing. It called for Special Agro-Processing Loans at interest rates of 5% or less, alongside better use of facilities such as the National Agricultural Development Fund, Bank of Industry, and CBN intervention schemes.
The group further warned that an export ban would breach Nigeria’s AfCFTA obligations, encourage smuggling, and erode investor confidence.
NCAN also unveiled its Farmers Mapper App, a digital platform designed to provide real-time data and support transparent planning across the cashew value chain. According to the association, Nigeria’s cashew industry can only grow through enabling policies, targeted incentives, and technology-driven solutions, not restrictive trade measures.
