1. RECENT INITIATIVES TO MAINTAIN RCN QUALITY IN NIGERIA Babatola Faseru National President, NATIONAL CASHEW ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA VICE PRESIDENT, AFRICAN CASHEW ALLIANCE 19/2/2016

2. Getting the quality issue right When it comes to cashew in Nigeria, quality starts at the farm. 2

3. Quality is everything In ensuring that we get RCN quality right at the farm the cashew improvement committee (CIM) was established. YOUR COMPANY LOGO HERE3

4. Farmers training Continuous sensitization of our farmers on proper harvesting and post-harvest handling practices is one tool we have engaged. We realize that the quality of raw cashew nuts can be compromised during harvest irrespective of seed quality that was grown due to improper post harvest handling. 4

5. What we teach our farmers Our farmers are trained to allow the nuts fall off the trees before picking. The nuts are detached from the apple and dried at the farm gate to 10% moisture content, packed in jute bags and then stored in well aerated warehouses. This procedure reduces post harvest losses by over 15% while preserving the quality of cashew nuts produced. 5

6. The tough battle Enforcing packing RCN in jute bags at farm gate as opposed to the use of polypropylene bags was a tough battle as it was heavily resisted when we introduced it. Before now, RCN were packed in polypropylene bags and stored which led to deterioration of RCN quality. However, we set up a structure (NCAN TASK FORCE) to maintain strict compliance and today, packing RCN in jute bags at farm gate is the norm. 6

7. Shipment challenge In the past we have recorded several cases of RCN quality deterioration at destination as a result of: 1.Short- shipment at load port. 2.Wrong RCN container placement in the vessel. 3.Trans shipment delays. 4.Long transit time. 7

8. Millions of Dollars lost The shipment challenge faced by RCN exporters from Nigeria brought about millions of Dollar loss in revenue plus a bad image for the country. 8

9. The CLM initiative In 2014, the Cashew Logistics meeting (CLM) was officially launched, in Zaaz Hotel Lagos Nigeria. More recently in December 2015, in preparation for the 2016 season we had the second event, having in attendance Chief Executive Officers of major shipping lines such as MAERSK, SAFMARINE, PIL, HULL BYTH, CMA CGM, COSCO along with cashew exporters and forwarders. 9

10. Objectives of the CLM Create a platform where RCN exporters, forwarders and shipping line operators can meet and share experience. Reduce transit time of RCN between origin (Nigeria) and destination port in India, Vietnam etc. Educate Shipping lines about the sensitivity and peculiarity of the cashew crop Establish a collaboration that jointly addresses RCN shipment challenges from Nigeria. 10

11. A new status for our RCN As a result of the CLM, our cashew now enjoys priority attention and preference among shipping lines, resulting in reduced transit time by 15 or more days which will impact greatly on the quality of our RCN. 11

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