<p></p><p>The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) on Friday said that they would jointly train more Nigerians in Cashew processing.The African Cashew Alliance (ACA) said in a statement issued by its Communications Officer, Monique St. Jarre, that the move was to boost the processing of cashew for export. <br></p> <p>The statement, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that the ACA, USAID, Nigeria Expanded Trade and Transport Project (NEXTT) and NEPC would be involved in the programme. <br></p> <p>It added that the training which was scheduled to hold in Ilorin this month, was aimed at promoting ``Cashew business competitiveness and environmental stability’’ for Nigerian stakeholders. ``The aim of this programme is to increase the competitiveness of cashew processing in Nigeria by actively involving processors in training sessions.</p><p>``The cashew business competitiveness and environmental sustainability workshop seeks to serve as a knowledge sharing arena for local Nigerian cashew industry stakeholders.</p> <p>``The participating processors will have the huge opportunities of interacting with experts in the industry, and be able to discuss ways of repositioning the Nigerian cashew sector,’’ it stated. <br></p> <p>The statement stated that it was imperative for Nigeria to critically look at the challenges currently being faced by its cashew sector. It listed the factors to repositioning the future of African cashew industry to include sustainability, improving quality of cashew production as well as upholding social and labour standards.</p><p>The other factors it recommended were good agricultural practices, creation of new market opportunities and new business relationships locally and internationally. <br></p> <p>The ACA was established in 2006 as an association of African and international businesses devoted to promoting a globally competitive African cashew industry.<br></p><p></p>