Date: 2023-07-27

The cashew giant in Kwara State, Olam Food Ingredients (OFI), has pledged to continually improve the wellbeing of cashew farmers and the partnering communities for better yields.

Speaking during the 2023 annual cashew farmers’ meeting organized by the company in Ilorin on Thursday, the General Manager of ofi, Rajeesh Neelanjeri, said that farmers are backbone of any agriculture sector, adding that the organization had always put best of its efforts to provide support to farmers.

The meeting, which had in attendance 15 cashew farmers’ groups drawn across communities in Kwara and Oyo states, also involved sensitization on improved cashew production and harvesting practices.

Rajeesh Neelanjeri said that efforts of the company included training of farmers on Good Agricultural practices (GAP), providing pre-season finance, distribution of farming equipment, social and community programmes etc.

He also said that the sustainability philosophy of the organization centres around five main pillars such as prosperous farmers, thriving communities, sustainable choices, climate positive and regenerating the living world.

“We want to partner our stakeholders with a sense of responsibility towards the society and the external environment and leave a sustainably positive impact through our activities”, he said.

Also speaking, Director of Agric, Kwara State ministry of Agriculture, Mallam Kabiru Mohammed, talked on the theme of the meeting, “Improvement in Cashew Farming System in Nigeria”, saying that improved cashew production can only be achieved through implementation of modern cashew cultivation practices.

“Cashew is a commodity crop of international recognition and it is important in foreign exchange earnings. It has turned out to be an oil well given to us by divinity. But this can only be achieved through implementation of modern cashew cultivation. Thus, there’s a need to move from subsistence to mechanized farming system most especially where there is vast land usage”, he said.

Represented by Mr. Amole Nathaniel of the Nigeria Produce and Inspection Service, Kwara state ministry of Agric, the director commended the company, on behalf of the Kwara State Ministry of Agric, for participatory efforts in Rural Agrarian Infrastructural Development programmes, saying that the efforts had encouraged betterments of the people and cashew industry at large.

“I also believe that the annual cashew farmers meeting of the organization has in all facet capable to enhance our cashew farmer production at all levels and their wellbeing”.