The Kogi State Government has officially flagged off the 2026 cashew season, reaffirming its commitment to transforming cashew into a major revenue source and job creator for the state.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo announced this at the Lugard House in Lokoja during the unveiling of the state’s cashew procurement policy. He said the initiative is aimed at improving cashew production, processing, packaging, and branding to enhance value addition and strengthen internally generated revenue.
As part of efforts to boost output, the governor also launched the free distribution of hybrid cashew seedlings to registered farmers across the state.
Nigeria currently ranks as the world’s fourth-largest cashew producer, with annual output of about 450,000 metric tonnes and export earnings exceeding $700 million.
Kogi State remains Nigeria’s leading cashew-producing state, supplying both local and international markets.
Director-General of the Kogi State Commodity Exchange, Export Promotion and Market Development Agency, Adewale Victor Omofaiye, alongside other stakeholders, described the initiative as timely, noting that it focuses on productivity, quality, market access, and shared prosperity.
The event, organized by the state’s Commodity Exchange and Export Promotion Agency, officially marks the commencement of the 2026 cashew business season in Kogi State.
