NEPC trains 100 cashew farmers in Oyo

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has concluded a day capacity building training for cashew farmers in Oyo State.

The event which held in Ogbomosho, the major cashew hub in Nigeria provided training for over a hundred cashew farmers and processors as part of the Strategic Implementation of the Zero Oil Plan and One-State One-Product (OSOP).

In his Keynote Address, the Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo listed the various gaps identified in the cashew value chain and urged participants to utilise every knowledge they got at the training to increase Nigeria’s competitiveness at the international market.

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Mr. Awolowo who spoke through Mr. Olu Ikulajolu noted that cashew as one of the strategic export products under the Zero Oil Plan and the main product of the Oyo State under the One-State One-Product, which the Council would continue to promote for Nigeria to increase her foreign exchange earnings.

He appreciated the Oyo State Government’s efforts aimed at promoting non-oil export in the state and stressed that being the Federal Government Agency that promotes the non-oil export in Nigeria, the NEPC would continue to assist stakeholders in cashew production for export with relevant information.

According to him, “NEPC would continue to engage relevant stakeholders to realise the objectives of the Zero Oil Plan.”

Earlier in her Welcome Address, the Trade Promotion Advisor, NEPC, Ibadan Export Assistant Office, Mrs. Bolanle Emmanuel appreciated the participants for turning out in large number for the event. She informed the gathering that “NEPC invited experts from the Cocoa Research institute of Nigeria to train Stakeholders across the cashew value chain and implored them to take advantage of the programme to update their skills.”

The event took participants through the various stages of cashew production, harvesting and post harvest handlings, processing and packaging to maximize cashew export.