•Distrbutes five million hybrid cashew seedlings to farmers
• Unveils procurement, trade policy
By Ojotule Romanus
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Odoodo, has flag-off the distribution of over five million improved hybrid cashew seedlings to Kogi farmers as part of efforts tailored towards boosting productivity during the 2026 farming season.
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This is in addition to the formal unveiling of the Kogi State Cashew Procurement and Trade Policy 2025 which is targeted at regulating the sector for enhanced revenue generated in the state.
Governor Odoodo deslosed this during the Flag off Programme organised by the Kogi State Commodity Exchange, Exports Promotion And Market Development Agency In Collaboration with Agro Trading Consults Limited held at Government House Lokoja.
Speaking further, the Governor revealed that last year alone, the State Government discovered cashew valued at over 8 billion naira was illegally taken from the state between March and April 2025. Just as he warned that the state would no longer tolerate the activities of illegal middle men in the sector.
Towards this end, he desclosed that his administration has moved to regulate the sector to ensure that henceforth, every dealer in the cashew trade are properly registered and identified.
He further expressed commitment to strategically positioned the state to become a major player in the cashew sector. Adding that plans are on for the establishment of cashew processing industries in the state
The Governor also desclosed that measures have been put in place to ensure that every dealer in the cashew trade is registered with the State Government. The step he added was aimed at regulating the sector for improved cashew production.
“This marks another major strides in the implementation of our Advanced New Direction Agenda. Beyond the ceremony of today, we are gathered here to clearly demonstrate our resolve to translate policies into practical actions
“We are here for a carefully planned and greatly impactful activity. First, the official flag off of 2026 cashew production season in kogi State, secondly, the former unavailing of Kogi State Cashew Procurement and Trade Policy 2025, and thirdly, the commencement of the distribution of over five millions improved hybrid cashew seedlings to farmers” the Governor stated.
Earlier in his address, the Director General of the Kogi State Commodity Exchange Exports Promotion And Market Development Agency ( KOSCEPA), Hon. Victor Omofaeya, had desclosed that Kogi State as one of the largest producers of cashew nuts in Nigeria, with over 40 percent production, could not boast of it’s value for the state hence the move to regulate the sector.
“We have to regulate the sector because of the activities of illegal middle men. We need to register the local buyers, the merchants, the exporters. They need to be identified in the state. So this very policy we have launched today will go a long way in regulating the activities of the sector.
“Also, we have to see how the farmers will be supported so that they will come up with more yields because the more we have these cashew plantations, the greater the revenue base of the state”. The COSCEPA DG Said.
According to him, the particular species of the hybrid seedlings would start producing fruits within two years of planting . And that all Local Government Areas have been urged to provide land where the farmers would commence farming.
Hon. Omafaiye also desclosed that the agency was looking at ways to collaborate with financial institutions and foreigner partners who are willing to invest and support the state in improving the sector in the interest of the state.
