In a bid to protect farmers from exploitation, the National Apex of Cashew Farmers, Processors and Marketing Cooperative Ltd has vowed to eliminate the role of middlemen in the cashew industry. According to Yunusa Gabriel Enemali, president of the cooperative, the organization’s primary goal is to empower farmers and ensure they receive fair prices for their products.
Enemali made this statement while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Monday, February 17, 2025. He emphasised that the cooperative aims to create a direct link between farmers and buyers, thereby eliminating the need for middlemen. This move is expected to increase farmers’ earnings and reduce their dependence on exploitative middlemen.
The issue of middlemen exploitation is not new to the agricultural sector. Research has shown that middlemen can extend the distribution channel, making it longer and more complex. This can lead to farmers receiving lower prices for their products, as middlemen take a significant cut of the profit.
Cooperative societies like the National Apex of Cashew Farmers, Processors and Marketing Cooperative Ltd play a crucial role in eliminating middlemen and promoting fair trade practices. These societies aim to purchase goods directly from farmers and sell them to consumers, thereby eliminating the need for middlemen.
By providing a platform for farmers to sell their products directly to buyers, the cooperative hopes to increase transparency and fairness in the cashew industry. This move is expected to benefit not only farmers but also consumers, who will have access to high-quality cashew products at fair prices.
As Enemali noted, the cooperative’s goal is to protect farmers from exploitation and ensure they receive fair prices for their products. By eliminating the role of middlemen, the cooperative hopes to create a more equitable and sustainable cashew industry.
