OGBOMOSO– In the heart of Oyo State, the 2026 cashew season has officially kicked off, cementing Ogbomoso’s status as the "premium hub" for Nigeria’s top non-oil export. While the "Hidden Goldmine" of Ogbomoso land continues to power the local economy, veteran broadcast journalist Akintayo Asamu Kowinrin is raising the alarm on a growing crisis: the systematic exploitation of local farmers by unscrupulous produce buyers. The Economic Powerhouse of Ogbomoso Ogbomoso cashew is globally recognized for its superior quality, boasting a Kernel Outturn Ratio (KOR) of 48–52, the highest in Nigeria. This quality allows the nuts to command a premium price on the international market, with current local prices for dry Raw Cashew Nuts (RCN) reaching up to ₦1,950 per kg as of February 2026. The industry is a multi-billion naira market, estimated to generate over ₦5 billion within a single five-month trading window. Beyond the nuts, the value chain offers multiple income streams: Cashew Apples: Processed into juice, wine, and jams. Industrial By-products: Shells used for Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) in polymers and paints. Long-term Wealth: A single tree provides a steady income for over 25 to 50 years. A Call to Order: Addressing Exploitation Despite this wealth, the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has raised alarms over "unregulated foreign involvement" and the exploitation of farmers at the farm gate. Many farmers are being cheated by buyers who take advantage of a lack of real-time market information and inadequate storage facilities. Advice to Producers (Farmers): Do not sell blindly. Your price is tied to your KOR. Ogbomoso`s high-grade nuts are worth a premium—demand it. Proper Post-Harvest Care: Gather nuts within 24 hours of falling and sundry them for 2–3 days to prevent deterioration. Use Jute Bags: Never use plastic or polypropylene bags, as they cause the nuts to rot, giving buyers an excuse to lower prices. Join Cooperatives: Individual farmers are easy targets. Strength in numbers through associations like NCAN helps in negotiating fair floor prices Advice to Buyers and Middlemen: Fair Pricing for Sustainability: Cheating farmers today leads them to cut down trees tomorrow, as seen with Nigeria`s former coffee industry. Destroying the source destroys your business. Transparent Grading: Base your purchases on visible quality and KOR, rather than exploiting the farmer`s immediate need for cash. Respect the Roadmap: Stakeholders have called for a "market-driven framework" that safeguards farmer incomes to ensure Ogbomoso remains a global hub. As the 2026 season progresses, the call for local processing facilities remains urgent. Processing raw nuts locally could multiply the industry`s value by five times, turning a $300 million export into a $1.4 billion windfall for Nigeria.
