<p></p><p>The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) said on Thursday that it hoped to generate about N80 billion from cashew export in 2016.</p> <p>Mr Sotonye Anga, the spokesman for the association, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the 2nd Annual Cashew Logistics Meeting in Lagos. <br></p> <p>Shipping companies also attended the conference. Anga noted that shipping lines had recognised cashew as revenue generating cash crop and contributor to the country’s economy.</p><p>According to him, shipping companies account for more than 80 per cent of exported cargoes from Nigeria. <br></p> <p>“There is need for improvement in the handling of cashew which will propel significant improvement in the country’s economic performance. “Shipping lines have recognised the economic relevance of cashew and that is why you can see their chief executives and decision makers represented at this meeting. <br></p> <p>“The meeting will afford the association opportunity to take steps to advance Nigeria’s cashew export to destinations like India, Vietnam, China, Middle East, Europe, U.S. and others. “We expect that Nigeria should generate about N80 billion from cashew export in 2016 season and trade in a manner that will impact on the value chain. <br></p> <p>Anga said the association believed in strong bond between NCAN and the shipping lines. He promised:“We will leverage on this relationship to ensure that 2016 cashew exports is hitch-free. <br></p> <p>“We will have zero claims because of damages to cashew cargo when containers are well dressed with adequate number of desiccants and kraft papers.’’ Mrs Maureen Okojie, the Export Manager of Safmarine, said decisions on shipping services were time bound. <br></p> <p>She stressed the need to look at shipment schedule between February and July 2016 for cashew shipments. An official of COSCO Shipping Company, Paulinius Effiong, advised forwarding agents to reject containers with holes. <br></p> <p>Meanwhile, Mr Tola Faseru, the President of NCAN, has inaugurated two committees to ensure a hitch-free 2016 cashew season. Faseru named the committees as the Cashew Logistics Committee and the Cashew Improvement Committee. <br></p> <p>The committees are saddled with the responsibility of implementing programmes for the 2016 season. NAN reports that cashew shipping companies, exporters, forwarders and shipping lines including Hull byth, Safmarine, Maersk, PIL, CMA CGM, United Arab Shipping Company and COSCO were represented at the meeting.<br></p><p></p>