The United States Agency for International Development has
concluded a study on the Nigerian cashew industry.
According
to a statement from USAID, findings of the study will be discussed during a
two-day workshop on cashew business competiveness and environmental
sustainability hosted by the African Cashew Alliance and USAID.
The
statement said the workshop scheduled to hold in Ilorin in August would engage
cashew industry stakeholders on the business of cashew.
The
event is said to be jointly organised by the USAID Nigeria Expanded Trade and
Transport Project and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and solely sponsored
by the USAID West African Trade Hub Network Project.
It
added that the workshop was aimed at increasing the competitiveness of cashew
processing in Nigeria by actively involving processors in training sessions.
The
statement read in part, “These training sessions will cover business
competitiveness and environmental sustainability, two topics that are crucial
to the future of the industry.
“The
study will be discussed among a panel of cashew industry experts.”
The
findings, according to the agency, come at a moment ripe for change in the
industry.
“In the
light of recent challenges, it is clear that the future of the African cashew
industry relies heavily on sustainability efforts, such as improvement in the
quality of cashew production, upholding social and labour standards and
ensuring good agricultural practices in order to create new market
opportunities and foster new business relationships.”
The
Nigerian cashew committee is expected to address panelists about a national
cashew strategy originally devised in October 2014 to increase local business
competiveness.
Training
is also expected to cover technical aspects of the processing business such as
cost control, productivity, efficiency, market information system, food safety
regulations and policy advocacy.
At the
end of the training, participating processors will have a chance to gather with
industry experts to discuss local challenges and draw up action plans for the
Nigerian cashew sector.
The
Business Advisory Manager at ACA, Mr. Sunil Dahiya, was quoted as saying that
by building local capacities and facilitating dialogue for prompt cashew policy
advocacy within the country, the workshop would do much more to further the
long-term sustainability and vitality of the cashew industry.
Source: http://www.punchng.com/business/industry/usaid-concludes-study-on-nigerian-cashew-industry/
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