Cashew dealers in Kogi State are calling on the government to intervene and stop foreigners from disrupting the cashew value chain, citing exploitation and poverty as major concerns.
Baba Mohammed, the BOT chairman of the Kogi Cashew Dealers Stakeholders Association, explained that foreigners, especially Indians, are bypassing local merchants and buying directly from farmers, disrupting the value chain and hurting local merchants and farmers.
“The foreigners’ actions are reducing local farmers to extreme poverty, as their goal is to export the product without adding value to the local economy,” Mohammed said. “The value chain in the cashew industry involves farmers, buyers, licensed buying agents, merchants, exporters, and processors. However, foreigners are disrupting this chain by buying directly from farmers, which hurts local merchants and reduces farmers’ income.”
Mohammed lamented that locals are being pushed out of the process, and their livelihoods are being threatened. He revealed that the Kogi State Assembly has fast-tracked a motion to address the issue, directing the Ministry of Agriculture to intervene.
Idris Yakub, vice chairman of the association, echoed similar sentiments, stating that foreigners are taking over the work of locals, driving down prices, and short-changing farmers. “Many farmers are misled by foreigners, who exploit their lack of exposure to market dynamics,” Yakub said.
Makama Adamu, the chairman of the Kogi State chapter of the Association, also voiced strong concerns over the growing influence of foreign businesses in local markets. “It will discourage the citizens of the country if foreigners exploit our hospitality to their advantage, undermining the value chain. We cannot allow them to take over and displace local businesses,” Adamu said.
