Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, said cashew has assumed a prominent position in Nigeria's commodities export basket, advising stakeholders that the bulk of benefits derivable from cashew business lies in the export of processed cashew and not the raw nuts. He said this at the National Cashew Flag-Off in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday.

Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed of the state also said the state was ready to take a leading role in the special cashew production scheme, adding that cashew could grow in all the 16 local government areas of the state.

Governor Ahmed, who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed, explained that due to cashew's high revenue-yielding potentials and short maturity period, the crop had long assumed cash crop status in the state.

The governor said the state's current effort on the speedy completion of the cargo terminal would further boost cashew export as private partners develop interest in cashew export business.