<p></p><p>Cashew had its origin from Brazil in South America. It is now grown in tropical countries of Africa. The Portuguese introduced it to Africa. It has been growing in Africa for the past 400 years. It is a sprawling broad leafed evergreen that is well adapted to poor soils and dry sandy locations. Cashew belongs to the ‘NUTS’. These area number of woody plants (trees and shrubs) of which the seed is the important feed constituent. Cashew apart from being nutritionally rich, it is rich in oil and fat and contains moderate amounts of carbohydrate and protein. It ships and keeps very well and can be used in much fashion as cereal grains and grain legumes.</p> <p>Cashew nut which is the seed is of high commercial value, to extract this seed, the shell must be removed. The shell contains a skin blistering oil which is highly valued for its many industrial applications. The oil when extracted contains oleic acid (about 74%) and 18% protein. The oil is used as a medicinal, an irritant, wood protectant and a source of resin. The young leaves are sometime used as flavouring and also as a medicinal. The yellow gum obtained as an exudates from incisions made on the bark is used mainly as adhesive. The wood of the plant (when dead) is utilized in several ways, and the bark to some extent for tanning and yellow dye. </p><p><b>Market Potentials/Project Justification.</b> </p><p>The uses to which cashew nut can be put to notwithstanding, the demand (local and foreign) for cashew nut is rising steadily and prices are good. It is a good source of foreign exchange. The nuts are heavily consumed in temperate countries. They are either prepared as delicacies or used in confectioneries. North America and Europe are known as the largest consumers of cashew nut.Cashew therefore has a lot of export market potentials. Local industries can also be encouraged to process cashew nuts.The recent Policy of the government has made cashew production to gain a very tremendous popularity. This is because of the boost given to the non-oil exports.A lot of abandoned cashew plantations located in Kogi State and the Northern parts of Oyo State (Iseyin, Saki, Oyo and Ogbomoso) have been re-activated by their owners. Suddenly cashew production is being seen as one of the major sources of foreign exchange earning.In view of the above, it has been identified that establishment of cashew plantation is one of the investment opportunities for Nigerian investors. Not only because of its foreign exchange potentials but also it is a life investment for its owners. This project is strongly recommended for consideration by investors.</p><h1>Requirements/Technical Information</h1> <p>A medium sized factory is acquired where the processing plant is installed. Cashew nuts processing involves procurement of dried cashew from produce buyers. Cashew is heavily grown in Oyo North, Ondo, Kwara, Kogi, Benue and some Northern States. The production processes are parboiling, drying. Cracking, sorting and packaging cashew has ready local and export markets.Cashew nuts have ready market in the America, Europe and Asia.</p><br><p></p>