<p></p><p>Nigeria Export Promotion Council, NEPC, has reiterated its commitment in creating no fewer than 344,000 new jobs through its “One State One Product Initiative’’.Zonal controller of the agency, Mr. George Enyiekpon, made the disclosure at the weekend during the Train – The Trainer Cashew Workshop entitled “Maximising the potentials of cashew from the farm gate to the market,’’ held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital..The workshop was held in collaboration with the state Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.He said the workshop was aimed at educating and showcasing best practices in cashew value chain for the farmers, agricultural extension agents, processors and exporters.He said: “Cashew is one of the 13 national products chosen by Nigeria to drive the non-oil export sector. <br></p> <p>Nigeria is the sixth largest producer of raw cashew nut in the world and with the product grown in almost all states in Nigeria.’’According to Enyiekpon, an increase of 20 per cent from the current production figure would create more than 344,000 jobs, stating that such would also generate $75, 875,000 additional incomes for the nation.He added that the country’s cashew attracted the lowest price in the global market as a result of challenges, which included low peel ability, poor quality, lack of traceability arising from fragmented value chain and poor skills among workers in the sector.Enyiekpon, added that Oyo State is the highest producer of cashew and that was why the agency started the training in the state among the three selected states of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo. <br></p> <p>Acting Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Gabriel Kehinde, assured the agency of the state government’s readiness to collaborate at exploring the potentials in it to benefit the people.Kehinde, who was represented by the Zonal Manager, OYSADEP, Ibadan/Ibarapa zone, Mr. Lukman Oladapo, urged the participants to make good use of the experience garnered at the workshop for the development of cashew production in the state.He said the present administration in the state under Governor Abiola Ajimobi, is more committed to the transformation of the state through revenue generation, job creation and infrastructural development.<br></p><p></p>