African Cashew Alliance

In Lagos, Nigeria, ACA met with the National Cashew Association Nigeria (NCAN), an existing government-recognized body that aims to improve the cashew sector. The NCAN is currently run by traders, and actively looking into including processors and producers to work on a strategy for the whole sector. NCAN expressed interest to link to ACA - being its national representation. At a larger cashew meeting on December 8th a priliminary agenda was identified for an ACA-NCAN meeting on January 26th in Ibadan. The 26 January 'work-meeting' will include key cashew stakeholders and will allow to:

• Elect a representative for the ACA steering committee
• Identify actions within the sector (1. how to improve quality and yield of raw nuts, 2. discuss recommendation for the Nigeria government: what can they do to help the cashew sector; 3. how to capitalize on potential for the cashew processing and exports)
• Prepare for a bigger country level meeting end of June (after Nigerian elections)

ACA worked together with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, the Sustainable Tree Crop Program - IITA, ACET Nigeria and Olam International to organize the initial meeting. The Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce hosted the meeting. For more information, email the ACA Secretariat.