IN a bid to revolutionize agriculture to a flourishing business, the Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo’s initiative, Kogi State Commodity Exchange Export Promotion and Marketing Development Agency, KOCEPA, is giving hope and changing the narrative in the state’s cashew industry. This was disclosed by the Chief Consultant, KOSCEPA, Dr Jude Osilama while speaking with Vanguard on the impact the recent Vietnam Cashew Association VINACAS, Golden Cashew Rendezvous 2025 will impact positively on the Kogi State cashew farmers, which already the Governor of Kogi State is doing through KOSCEPA to transform the lives of cashew farmers in the state. According to Osilama, Kogi State cashew was recognized as a top and global brand of cashew based on global research and rating, therefore, making it a highly sought after specie of cashew in Vietnam which is the largest cashew-processing country in the world. He also explained that the Governor has assured farmers, especially, cashew farmers of transforming the into millionaires by the virtue of the KOSCEPA’s mandate, and he is bent on sustaining the number one position of Kogibas the highest cashew producer in Nigeria while he is doing a lot in the agricultural sector across the local government areas and the three senatorial districts. Governor Ododo created KOSCEPA by accenting to a Bill passsed into law by the Kogi State House of Assembly, which is basically to empower farmers in Kogi State with financial assistance, training, facilitating local and international market access for farmers, promoting economic growth through various initiatives, boosting Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, job creation, and others. He said: “The government of Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo has stepped in to see how he can revisionize the cashew industry in Kogi State that is why the Kogi State Commodity Exchange, Export Promotion and Marketing Agency, KOCEPA, was given birth to. “The agency has been empowered with latest policies, agendas to see how to promote the production of cashew in the state. The agency is also there to advertise and do exports of all commodities we have in the state and also market the commodities we have to showcase it to the international market about what Kogi is producing in terms of off-taking and quality assurance. “Kogi State currently is the highest cashew producing state in Nigeria with the highest number of tonnage of cashew in Nigeria. We have over 120,000 metric tonnes per year and with one of the best KRO qualities that is accepted all over the world of up to 52 KRO in the world. The quality of it is very high and it was even announced at in the just concluded Vietnam Cashew Association, VINACAS, Summit held in Hanoi City, Vietnam.” Meanwhile, speaking on processing of the commodity, he (Osilama) said serious discussions have taken place with investors who are going to be visiting Kogi State soon to see how they can begin processing. “During this last visit to Vietnam, we had discussions with various manufacturers of processing plant who are ready, they have the technological-wise of producing the machines for processing cashew. “We met with four of them including Vietnam Machine Company. The discussions were on how to invest in the machinery sector for the state. “They have given their go ahead and will be visiting the state in January to show their readiness to have this processing plant installed right in Kogi that would process and sent cashew directly to the US, Germany, Japan, United Arab Emirates, UAE, and other parts of the world where they demand processed cashew. “So the Governor through KOSCEPA has taken it upon himself to ensure the best support is given to cashew farmers in terms of their productivity and profitability. “He will bring support in terms of elevating the plight of farmers from the stage of poverty to riches now, because what the farmers bring out from the farm is now being advertised to the international world and we have off-takers who have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the National Cashew Association of Nigeria, NCAN, to off-take all what we produce from Kogi to the international market. So it is a welcome development, and at the end of the day, the Governor has just worked for the farmers and the entire Kogites to benefit of what they have worked for including job and creation for farmers. He also made it known that 15 million cashew trees will be planted in three years to replace the aged ones, and added that the cultivation of the new cashew trees will be for 5 million cashew farmers, and that the seedlings are hybrid. According to him, the target production will be 150,000 metric tonnes of cashew by 2027. Also, cashew will be sun-dried for the first time in Kogi State according to international standards, and the journey for sun-drying in Ogbomosho, Oyo State will be a thing of the past. “So at the end of 2026, we will be seeing our farmers smiling back home to the banks and getting more projects done for themselves by the gain they will get from this new and strategic plans that His Excellency has for the good people of Kogi State”, he stated. Meanwhile, the National President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria, NCAN, Dr Ojo Ajanaku, hailed Governor Usman Ododo for taking a bold step to establish the Kogi State Commodity Exchange Export Promotion and Marketing Development Agency, KOCEPA, to change the narrative in Kogi agric space. Ajanaku also called on other governors to emulate the bold step of Ododo by creating similar agency to seamlessly drive agriculture and agribusiness to boost non-oil exports, create wealth, jobs for youths, and better the lives of farmers. “The National Cashew Association of Nigeria is in full collaboration and support with the Governor Usman Ododo for establishing KOSCEPA, and we are using this moment to say, Mr. Governor, we thank you very much for taking this decisive initiative, which is the best thing that has happened to Kogi State cashew industry. “This is going to be a way of guaranteeing our farmers productivity and not selling at a loss, also this is going to protect our farmers from harvesting prematurely, because they now that the state government is interested in them, our farmers can take time to wait for the crop to reach maturity and harvesting. The NCAN boss also expressed optimism that KOSCEPA will tackle most of the challenges in the cashew industry in Kogi State and beyond. “As long as they are working with us, as the National Cashew Association of Nigeria, who already knows the challenges that we have in this sector, with what has been done in Kogi State, we believe in full collaboration, with time to time we will be addressing whatever issues that arise. But for now, we believe that what has been put in place is enough to check all the challenges that we have at the moment. Meanwhile, he (Ajanaku) added that the recent Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed with the Vietnam Cashew Association, VINACAS on boosting cashew production an processing Kogi State cashew industry will assume a new dimension. “The Director General, KOSCEPA, Hon Victor Omofaiye was in Vietnam, and he witnessed all the events that happened there, he witnessed the MoU signing, and a copy of the MoU was also given to him, and part of the framework that we are going to be discussing is how to strengthen Kogi cashew production and processing capacity”, he added.