Farmers are going nut
If nothing else, most Nigerians agree that Nigerianeeds to diversify its economy. The problem is
that no one ever really explains, in practical
terms, what this diversification will look like if it
is achieved. The difficult and even painful route to
get to this diversified economy is never discussed
either.
I’ve been using the hashtag #CabalAlert (on
twitter) to chronicle the rent-seeking behaviour of
Nigerians when they come together under some
association usually to demand some kind of
‘intervention’ (read: money) or a bailout from the
government. But I find one particular cabal
tolerable — The National Cashew Association of
Nigerian (NCAN). Even when they ask for the
government to give them money, they tell real life
stories of how cashew farmers are doing in
Nigeria.
Here’s one example from last October :
The National Cashew Association of Nigeria,
NCAN, told the News Agency of Nigeria on
Sunday in Lagos that the current global
market trends showed an increase in demand
for cashew.
The association’s spokesperson, Sotonye
Anga, said that this was due to Good
Agricultural Practice and improvement
introduced to farmers in 2014.
“We are glad to witness the prosperity of
cashew farmers in Nigeria. It goes a great deal
to show that NCAN is working and in
collaboration with government and our
development partners.
“The current global market trends show an
increasing and strong demand for cashew and
Nigeria will continue to deliver its quota and
remain relevant in the cashew world.
“I therefore, urge our cashew farmers
nationwide to be serious with the cashew
business and be committed to GAP and quality
improvement protocols so as to get the cash in
cashew.
There was also this:
Some cashew farmers in Umoni Village, Ofu
Local Government Area in Kogi said on
telephone that they were happy with the
development as their lives had become better.
A cashew farmer, Samuel Haruna, said he was
able to roof his family house with the sales he
recorded from the 2015 cashew season.
Mr. Haruna, who had been in the cashew
business for more than 20 years, said he never
really made profit from selling raw cashew
nuts as much as he made in 2015 season.
“I was able to buy 14 bundles of roofing zinc
to roof my family house. I have been involved
in cashew farming for 20years and I never
had it this good.
“This 2015 cashew season was really good for
me and for my people, I realised good money
from the sale of cashew.
“We cashew farmers from Umoni village are
very happy; we are pleased with the activities
of NCAN and all the efforts at improving
cashew farmer’s livelihood.
“This year I made good money from my
cashew farm for the first time. Not just me but
other cashew farmers made good money too,”
he said.
A 30-year-old cashew farmer, Joel Thomas,
said that he bought a jeep from the sale of
cashew recently.
Another cashew farmer, also from Umoni
Village, Ibrahima Sule, said he bought a
Toyota car from the sale of cashew in 2015.
A 35-year-old, Isaac Idanyi, said he was able
to build a four-bedroom flat from the sale of
cashew nuts.
As much as it is true that the farmers have
benefitted from an international boom in cashew
nut prices, you still have to take part in the game
to stand a chance of winning anything. These guys
have been able to grow and export the nuts and
earned a decent income in ways that have
transformed their lives.