Cashew Nuts

NIGERIA CASHEW FACTS

Production

• 60 years in production.
• 220 – 240,000 tonnes inshell.
• 6^th largest in the World.
• 3^rd in Africa.
• 22 States Producing.
• Smallholders and commercial farmers.
• Yields 300-800 kgs p/ha.
• Improving quality.
• Early crop Feb-April.

Trends

• Production growth 10% CAGR 10 years.
• Replacement of aging trees.
• Growth forecast to continue.
• New varieties Brazil Jumbo and Medium.
• Quality “Ogbomosho” 47-49lbs/ 190 nut count.
• Quality “Nigerian” 42-46lbs 195-205 nut count.

Did you know?

• Nigeria’s cashew sector is undergoing rapid development. Aging trees are being replaced with new high quality varieties. Commercial cashew farming is taking off and better post-harvest handling is solving the old problem of difficult peeling. 
• Nigeria has the lowest export taxes on RCN in Africa. 
• Nigeria can process 25,000 – 35,000 tonnes of cashew every year but is currently only utilising about one third of the capacity. This too is changing. 

Nigeria has West Africa’s largest domestic cashew kernel market. It is likely to grow as the economy develops.