The Oyo State House of Assembly has taken steps to protect local cashew farmers while strengthening regulatory frameworks guiding the activities of foreign investors in the state’s cashew industry.
This followed the presentation of a report at plenary by the House Joint Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and Commerce and Cooperatives, which investigated a petition by the National Cashew Association of Nigeria over compliance with farm gate operations and packaging standards.
Reading the report, the Committee Chairman, Hon. Peter Ojedokun, disclosed that Oyo State remains a major cashew-producing state, contributing significantly to its Internally Generated Revenue, noting that although foreigners were barred from farm gate activities in 2022, they still play key roles in export operations.
The lawmakers observed that the use of synthetic materials for packaging raw cashew nuts violates international trade standards, while unregulated foreign purchases at farm gates undermine local buying agents and merchants.
The Assembly therefore urged the state government to ensure that foreign investors operate strictly within designated export zones, enforce the use of jute bags for packaging, and strengthen collaboration among farmers, licensed buyers and exporters, while calling on security agencies to enforce existing regulations to sustain growth in the sector.
