<p></p><p>Mr Tunji Owoeye, the former President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), on Wednesday, called on farmers to plant more cashew trees in the country. Owoeye, who made this call in Lagos in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said it was necessary to plant new cashew trees to support the old ones.</p> <p>‘‘The association has been calling for the planting of new cashew trees for long and nothing has been done about it. ‘‘I am saying it again that because of the growing consumption rate of cashew, steps should be taken to support the old trees with the new ones. </p><p>‘‘If this is being done for cocoa why not for cashew also. ‘‘Cashew price is rising from $200 and $500 to $1,000 and $1,600 per tonne in the international market,” he said. He said that cashew farmers and investors would appreciate interventions in the processing of raw cashew to improve business in the agriculture sub-sector. Owoeye said that processing raw cashew in the country would increase its value at the international market. </p><p>He said the processing of 40 to 50 per cent of raw cashew in the country would make a remarkable impact on the commodity and enhance export. Owoeye observed that the majority of what was being exported now in the country was raw cashew.<br></p><p></p>