The Kogi State Government has declared readiness to take the lead in transforming Nigeria’s cashew sector through deliberate policy actions, investment in local and industrial processing which would also create job and economic diversification.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Timothy Ojomah made this known at the Cashew Roundtable meeting held in Abuja, where he represented the state government.

He stated that Kogi, as Nigeria’s leading producer of raw cashew nuts, is now moving decisively towards value addition and agro-industrial investment that will make cashew a major economic driver in the state’s economy.

Hon. Ojomah expressed deep concern over the slow pace of progress in cashew development despite years of discussions and strategy documents.

“We have talked too much. What we now need is action. We have a document, and the time has come to sit and implement what is on paper and we hope our partners will assist us to drive the process forward,” he said.

A statement by the Government House Media Team on Sunday quoted the Commissioner to have described cashew as “a diamond on the tree,” insisting that with the right investments and commitment, the crop has the capacity to deliver massive economic returns.

He added that Kogi State has begun formulating and implementing deliberate policies to attract investors to establish cashew processing facilities within the state.

Hon. Ojomah further emphasized that the lack of value addition in cashew production is robbing the country, and especially Kogi State, of jobs and income.

Recalling a visit to Valencia, Spain, he said, “I saw the number of people employed in their cashew factories. If we replicate that here, the issue of unemployment will be tackled.”

He noted that Kogi’s approach is to harness its natural advantage in cashew production by encouraging public-private partnerships that will drive local processing, export potential, and inclusive economic growth.

Earlier, Florian Winckler, Country Director of German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), welcomed stakeholders to the roundtable and praised Kogi State for its leadership and commitment to cashew sector reform.

He noted that the roundtable was convened under the Moon Project, implemented by GIZ and co-financed by the European Union, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, the Gates Foundation, and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Development.

Winckler said that while Nigeria currently produces over 310,000 metric tonnes of raw cashew annually, the country has yet to harness the full economic potential of the crop due to low processing capacity, quality inconsistencies, and weak integration into global markets.

Winckler emphasized that production alone is not enough. “We must address the persistent structural challenges that hinder competitiveness. Without deliberate and coordinated action, Nigeria risks falling behind other countries that are investing in policy innovation, processing infrastructure, and quality standards,” he stated

He described the roundtable as an opportunity to realign efforts, ask critical questions, and begin a new phase of collaboration aimed at making Nigeria’s cashew sector globally competitive.

He also praised the presence of key players in the room and expressed confidence that real progress can be made through shared vision and commitment.

The Stakeholders present included representatives from federal and state ministries, international development partners, the private sector, and research institutions with the conversations focused on bridging the gap between production and processing, encouraging investment, and ensuring policy coherence across board.