The Enugu State Government has said that the World Bank-assisted Agro-Processing Productivity Enhancement Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project has set up an N100m aggregation centre for cashew processing in the state.

The processing centre is sited in Ohom Orba community, Udenu Local Council Area of the state.

State Project Coordinator, Christian Nwachukwu made this known during a visit to sensitise stakeholders on the project at Orba.

The project, according to Nwachukwu, was conceived following the volume of cashew produced in the community.

The project coordinator explained that vision became realisable after the state government completed its counterpart funds adding that it will help to further increase cashew production and reduce postharvest wastages.

In his words, “Orba in Udenu is a major cashew belt; lots of cashews are harvested here. So, we are here to do advocacy on setting up an aggregation and processing centre.

“The idea is that the aggregation and processing plant will be processing cashew here in Orba.

“The centre is the first place where the farmers bring their produce for moisture level reduction before export,” he said.

Nwachukwu, therefore, urged the cashew dealers in and around the area to make full use of the World Bank and the state government project.

On his part, the Traditional ruler of Ohom Orba, Igwe Evarestus Onah, lauded Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the World Bank for citing the project in the community.

He said, “The community is in joyous mood because for a long time, cashew dealers here have suffered in the course of doing their business but right now APPEALS has come to their rescue by establishing cashew processing plants here in Orba”

Also speaking, Chairman of the National Cashew Association, Enugu state chapter, Mr. Anthony Onah, noted that the state now has what it takes to export and supply processed cashew.