Lokoja — THE Kogi State Government, weekend restated its commitment to the development of cashew production in the country, arguing that if the industry was taken more seriously it could generate more revenue than petroleum to the federal coffer.

Governor Idris Wada, who stated this at the annual national cashew season flag-off in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, explained that his administration was interested in boosting the production of cashew, because the crop thrived very well within the state, noting that most of the cashew produced in the state were wasted due to non- value addition.

Wada, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Professor Olugbemiro Jegede, explained that Kogi State had keyed into the Federal Government's Agricultural Tranformation Agenda and called on investors to come to invest in cashew processing in the state, assuring that the environment was business friendly.

The SSG said Kogi State, the largest producer of cashew in the country produeced over 40 per cent of of the total annual 120,000 metric tons, insisting that there was the need to change unorganised bush farming with its attendant wastages.

Speaking, National President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria, NCAN, Mr. Tola Faseru, said that the annual cashew season flag-off was begining of new era of cashew in Kogi State.