Farmers, Traders Decry High Cashew Prices

Worried by rising prices of cashew, stakeholders in in Kogi State under Farmers’ Forum of Nigeria have raised the alarm over alleged plot to increase the price of the produce from N30,000 to N90,000.

The forum appealed to Governor Usman Ododo to intervene by halting multiple taxations.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Ibrahim Adam, the forum pleaded with the government to consider the plight of farmers and traders who cannot bear multiple taxations.

The forum called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Ministry of Agriculture to address multiple taxation.

Adam said: “The Produce Inspection Department (PID) in Kogi State charges N30,000 per truck, the highest in the country. Kano, Gombe, Katsina, Yobe and others charge lower fees.

“The Kano PID N5,000, Gombe N5,000, Katsina N3,000, Yobe N2,000, Nasarawa N20,000, Benue N25,000, Oyo N20,000, Niger N10,000, Bauchi N5,000, Jigawa N3,000, Yola N4,000, Kaduna N7,000 and Osun N10,000.

“Besides N30,000 per-truck charge, cashew buyers in Kogi also pay various levies: interstate or haulage N13,000, IML N5,000, loading and offloading N12,000, pass N5,000, state environmental N6,000, council environmental N5,000 and council departmental N10,000.”

The forum noted that the intended high price of the produce does not encourage any policy on ease of doing business, even as they added that it deters foreign buyers and investors and impoverishes the farmers.

It also warned that “should the Federal Government and Kogi State refuse to take steps to stop the unnecessary harassment of cashew farmers and buyers by the agencies, cashew business in Kogi State would be hindered substantially.”

They urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Kogi State government to intervene as the various unnecessary levies cause undue hardship to the people, the majority of whom are cashew farmers and traders.

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