<p></p><p>Cashew has the potential for economic growth and employment if farmers and processors are supported to improve production, the Acting Executive Director of Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute Mr Julius Adebayo Onietan has said. <br></p> <p>In an interview, he said there was a need to revamp the industry and expand its processing capacity to higher levels in the coming years.According to him, the industry is dogged by low input, low yields and poor prices for raw nuts.Onietan praised the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) for the training of more Nigerians in cashew processing, adding that such interventions would increase competitiveness, as well as facilitate improved production. <br></p> <p>He acknowledged TechnoServe’s activities in the North on farmers’empowerment to boost their agricultural methods.According to experts, Nigeria good for growing and processing of cashew nuts. The north for exmaple, has expanse of land to increase production but little support is given to farmers. <br></p> <p>According to experts, processors should be competitive in four areas: broken nut yields, production costs, working capital rates, quality and reputation.Meanwhile, the West Africa Trade Hub of the USAID has earmarked over $150,000 to help finance processing raw cashew nuts to increase regional trade competitiveness, improve food security, and reduce poverty over the next five years. <br></p> <p>The programme, which is in partnership with Cashew Alliance, is among other objectives aimed at boosting international exports, jobs, and investments; and also to promote broader, more sustainable growth by improving both the private sector’s capacity and policies, rules and practices that govern regional and external trade. It will also increase regional trade in key commodities through more value added exports: shea, cashew, mango, rice, maize, millet/sorghum, livestock — cattle, and small ruminants.<br></p><p></p>