By Atoyebi Nike
The Director of Private Sector Development, Mary Adazanyo, says Nigeria’s new National Cashew Research Strategy is crucial to increasing cashew production from 400,000 to 700,000 metric tonnes annually.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, she said the goal can only be achieved through investment in research and development.
She described the cashew sector as vibrant and noted Nigeria’s position as the sixth-largest producer globally.
The new strategy, developed with the Science Institute of Nigeria and the German development agency GIZ, is the country’s first coordinated national plan for cashew research.
Its focus areas include improving farming methods, building resilience to climate change, expanding processing capacity, and training skilled workers in the sector.
Adazanyo emphasized the importance of scientific data on plant spacing, tree density, and cashew byproduct development.
She thanked her team and stakeholders, including the Police Service of Nigeria, for their support in preparing the strategy.
The document is expected to serve as a guide for researchers, farmers, investors, and policymakers in the cashew industry.
