German Government partners OGUNCCIMA to revive moribund cashew farming

In a bid to revive the moribond cashew farming in Nigeri, the German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria, known as AHK, has partnered with the Ogun State Chambers of Commerce Industries, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA).

The two bodies, to this end, the two organisation have agreed to launch a pilot project to develop skills around cashew, while the flag off ceremony is designated to take place on Friday at Continental Suite, Abeokuta.

Disclosing this President OGUNCCIMA, Alhaji Wasiu Olaleye while addressing a press conference in Abeokuta, explained that the first phase of the project is designed to train 80 existing and intending cashew farmers.

Olaleye explained that the training which is for one month is scheduled to kick off from May 5, 2023, stressing that 25% will be classroom affairs, while remaining 75% will be pure practical

‘’I want to encourage our people to key into the project. 80 farmers will undergo the take off training. The beneficiaries should take the project serious. Training is to start May, 5, which is to last for one month. 25% of the training will be in the classroom, while 75% is field work, which is pure practical’, he explained

In her remarks Head of Competence Centre Agribusiness of the German Organisation in Nigeria, Olayinka Makinwa explained that the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce, a bilateral chamber of commerce and the official representatives of German economic interest in Nigeria is implementing a Sustainable Cashew Farming

‘The project seeks to make an important contribution to the cashew production value chain by enhancing qualitative technical and vocational education and skills training in line with industry demands and standards’, she said

Makinwa recalled that the project commenced in the first quarter of 2022 with cashew roundtable, which took place as part of the Agriculture TVET Conference in Abuja between February 1-2, 2022 and welcomed well over 140 cashew stakeholders from both the private and public sector, farmers and other practitioners in the cashew value chain

She explained that, the project stages of the sustainable cashew farming followed four practical stages which include; skills gap analysis, to identify the specific needs and skills gaps within Nigeria’s cashew production sector, Developing occupational profiles, establishing modular training curricula.

These also include standardized training model in collaboration with industry experts, hands on training implementation and certification of trained farmers, while the goals of the project is to identify the specific needs, skills and training gaps in the cashew production sector.

Makinwa added that, other goals are to train and equip cashew production farmers with relevant technical and vocational skills and education for maximum input, develop professional standards for employed and non-employed youth in Nigeria and build sustainable agriculture

She disclosed that other goals include develop training modules and National Occupational Standards within the National Qualification Framework, strengthening Nigeria’s industrial sector through better trained specialists/personnel and create multipliers who set up and, if necessary carry out further training modules/professions.

The Chairman, Board of Directors, Ogun State Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA), Iyalode Alaba Lawson in her own speech expressed appreciation to the German government for considering partnership with the chambers.

The first female National President of National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Mine and Agriculture (NACCIMA), assured that, the beneficiaries will make use of the opportunity for the betterment of farming in the country

‘This project is historical; It is another historical day for another round of collaboration. Ogun State Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture has a long standing relationship with the German government’, she explained

Lawson called on the beneficiaries to take opportunity of the advantage, adding that, it is an avenue for them to exhibit their vocational skills, adding that the project will also create job opportunities.

The Iyalode of Yorubaland, disclosed that, as part of genuine efforts and seriousness of the Ogun State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture(OGUNCCIMA), the body has negotiated for adequate land with the authorities of the Federal University of Agriculture(FUNNAB), Abeokuta, adding that 250 hectares of land had already being allocated for the project