NCAN reaffirms commitment to inclusive cashew value-chain devt

The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s cashew value chain roadmap, stressing that any review process must be inclusive and transparent.

The association disclosed this in a communiqué issued at the end of its 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Abuja, shortly after the 4th Nigeria Cashew Day.

The event, themed “Unlocking the Full Potential of Nigeria’s Cashew Industry through Investment, Innovation and Global Trade,” was jointly organised by NCAN and the African Cashew Alliance.

According to the communiqué, the AGM resolved that representatives from all segments of the cashew value chain should be brought together in a single forum to review the roadmap document before any validation.

The association explained that this approach is aimed at protecting the interests of farmers and ensuring broad stakeholder ownership of sector reforms.

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The communiqué, jointly signed by NCAN President, Dr Ojo Joseph Ajanaku; National Secretary, Engr Unekwuojo Augustine Edime; Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Mr Sunday Uzoechi; and BoT Secretary, Mr Abraham Adesina, reiterated the association’s commitment to due process, constitutional governance, and institutional transparency.

As part of its resolutions, the AGM announced disciplinary action against a member over actions deemed inconsistent with the association’s constitution, while also calling for further internal review of related matters in line with established procedures.

The AGM also acknowledged the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with VINACAS and resolved to ensure the timely development and implementation of the agreed framework. Vacant executive positions arising from recent developments are to be filled through nominations from the affected zones, in accordance with NCAN’s governance structure.

In addition, members resolved to review the NCAN Constitution to further clarify the roles of the Board of Trustees and strengthen overall governance.

A Constitution Review Committee is expected to be constituted, with recommendations to be presented at the next AGM or at an extraordinary meeting, if required.

On sector growth, the AGM endorsed a large-scale cashew seedling production and distribution initiative for 2026, building on earlier efforts, and mandated the association’s leadership to engage relevant stakeholders to advance cashew production nationwide.

Meanwhile, resolutions from the Cashew Summit held alongside the AGM underscored the need for a balanced, market-driven framework to grow the industry, expand production, support farmer incomes, and promote domestic value addition.

Stakeholders called for increased investment in processing capacity through public-private partnerships, improved access to finance, reliable energy supply, and efficient trade and logistics infrastructure.

Participants also emphasised the importance of incentive-based policies to stimulate investment, strengthened quality assurance and certification systems, and greater adoption of backward integration models to enhance productivity and income stability for farmers.

The association reaffirmed its commitment to unity, collaboration, and sustained engagement with domestic and international investors to unlock opportunities across Nigeria’s cashew value chain.