The Kogi State Government has begun the distribution of five million improved hybrid cashew seedlings to farmers across the state, as part of efforts to boost agricultural productivity, job creation and export promotion.
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‎The initiative was announced on Friday at the Government House in Lokoja during the flag-off ceremony of the 2026 Cashew Farming Season and the unveiling of the state’s Cashew Procurement and Trade Policy 2025.
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‎Speaking at the event, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo said years of poor coordination and lack of unity among stakeholders in the cashew production value chain hindered Kogi State from fully harnessing its vast agricultural resources.
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‎The governor described cashew as a strategic economic crop and a viable pathway to sustainable growth and wealth creation in the state.
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‎He noted that providing farmers with access to improved seedlings, alongside a structured and regulated market, would significantly enhance productivity and earnings for everyone in the sector.
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‎Governor Ododo also revealed plans to establish cashew processing plants across different parts of the state, aimed at reducing post-harvest losses, adding value to raw produce and further stimulating the local economy.
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‎He however issued a stern warning against illegal buyers, middlemen and unauthorized foreign investors who are bent on shortchanging the system by direct purchase of cashew from farmers without complying with laid down regulations by the state government.
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‎According to the Governor, such practices undermine pricing mechanisms, exploit farmers and weaken the entire cashew value chain.
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‎“Any individual or group found violating the state’s cashew trading regulations will be treated as criminals and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the governor said.
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‎He called on buyers, investors and other stakeholders to work closely with the Kogi State Commodity Exchange, Export Promotion and Market Development Agency (KOSCEPA) to enhance productivity, improve farmers’ income and strengthen the state’s economy.
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‎Governor Ododo commended the federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for its support to Kogi State in agriculture, export expansion and food security, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
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‎He urged farmers to see regulation not as a restriction, but as a catalyst for sustainable growth.
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‎Earlier, the Director-General of KOSCEPA, Adewale Victor, said the initiative was aimed at sustaining the position of Kogi State among Nigeria’s leading cashew-producing states, contributing about 40 per cent of the country’s national cashew output.
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‎He praised Governor Ododo for recognizing the importance of cashew in the state’s agricultural economy, noting that the establishment of KOSCEPA will strengthen revenue generation from production, processing and marketing of agricultural products.
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‎He added that the distribution of free hybrid seedlings underscored the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and expanding cashew production in the state.
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‎In separate remarks, Commissioner for Commerce, Muhammed Mukhtar; Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assemby, Comfort Egwaba; Managing Director of Agro Trading Consult Ltd (ATCL), Jude Osilama reaffirmed commitment to the growth of the cashew value chain and pledged further collaboration to promote transparency, attract responsible investment and ensure sustainable development of the cashew industry in the State.
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