Cashew Nuts Production and Marketing among Farmers in Ugwolawo District, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Cashew is reportedly ranked third in world production of edible nuts that are traded globally [2]. The annual world production of cashew nuts was about 3,186,039 tons and Nigeria was rated the second among the top ten producers with 660,000 tons after Vietnam as the highest producer with 961,000 tons [3]. The introduction of Brazilian cashew biotype with improved and desirable nuts and quality characteristics by the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) has further increased the popularity of the crop and the spread in Nigeria [4].The contribution of Kogi State to the nation’s production is about 30% annually, while the Eastern part of the State accounted for about 60% of the State’s production [5]. The average yield of the nuts of a mature cashew tree ranges from 7-11kg per annum [5]. In Nigeria, cashew nuts exports represent 78% of non-oil export earnings. The estimated export value varies from US$ 2535 million annually, and supplements the income of about 50,000 farmers and an additional 55,000 people who are employed down its value chain [6, 7]. Nigeria tops the countries that produce the best cashew nuts, followed by India, Cote d Ivoire and Philippines [8].