By: Bashir Opaluwa Idris
The Kogi State House of Assembly has called on the State Ministry of Agriculture to safeguard economic trees and strengthen the cashew value chain.
Member representing Kabba Bunu State Constituency, Hon. Bello Oluwaseyi Victor in a motion on the floor of the House, emphasized that rural communities rely on economic trees like cashew for their livelihoods.
He stressed the need to protect the cashew value chain as an essential local industry.
The lawmaker who noted that cashew value chain, comprises of exporters, merchants, licensed buying agents, sub-buyers, and farmers, said there must be properly regulated to prevent the indiscriminate activities of foreign buyers involved in agro-commodity procurement.
Hon. Bello appealed to the state government to mandate the Ministry of Agriculture to implement mechanisms ensuring strict compliance with the cashew nut value chain.
He equally proposed restricting exporters’ activities to major towns within the state.
Seconding the motion, the member representing Dekina/Biraidu State Constituency, Hon. Usman Ochidi while emphasizing the necessity of the motion, said it aimed to protect the interests of the people they represent.
Supporting the motion, the Deputy Speaker and member representing Ibaji State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Comfort Ojoma Nwuchiola Egwaba urged the State Ministry of Agriculture to launch a comprehensive sensitization campaign to educate cashew farmers on the importance of preserving their cashew trees.
In his ruling, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf directed the House Committee on Agriculture to engage with relevant authorities for immediate action.
