Kogi Assembly Calls for Protection of Cashew Value Chain

The Kogi State House of Assembly has urged the State Ministry of Agriculture to safeguard economic trees and strengthen the cashew value chain by ensuring that the local farmers are not shortchanged.

The member representing Kabba Bunu State Constituency, Hon. Bello Oluwaseyi Victor, who raised the motion on the floor of the House, emphasizing that rural communities rely on economic trees like cashew for their livelihoods and stressed the need to protect the cashew value chain as an essential local industry.

He highlighted that the cashew value chain comprising exporters, merchants, licensed buying agents, sub-buyers, and farmers must be properly regulated to prevent the indiscriminate activities of foreign buyers involved in agro-commodity procurement.

Bello also called on the state government to mandate the Ministry of Agriculture to implement mechanisms ensuring strict compliance with the cashew nut value chain.

Additionally, he proposed restricting exporters’ activities to major towns within the state.

Seconding the motion, Hon. Oshidi Usman Shehu, representing Dekina/Biraidu State Constituency, emphasized the importance of the motion, stating that it aimed to protect the interests of the people they represent.

Supporting the motion, Deputy Speaker Comfort Ojoma Nwuchiola Egwaba urged the Ministry of Agriculture to launch a comprehensive sensitization campaign to educate cashew farmers on the importance of preserving their cashew trees.

In his ruling, Speaker Aliyu Umar Yusuf directed the House Committee on Agriculture to engage with the relevant authorities for immediate action.