Olam Food Ingredients (OFI) has said it will not relent in improving the well-being of cashew farmers in Kwara and Nigeria. OFI, which has cashew giant plant in Kwara state, also pledged its continued relationship with all partnering communities for improved cashew yields. General Manager, OFI Rajeesh Neelanjeri, said this in Ilorin, the state capital during the 2023 annual cashew farmers meeting organized by the company. He said that farmers are the backbone of any agriculture sector, adding that the organization had always strived to bring succour to farmers. The meeting had in attendance 15 cashew farmers’ groups, drawn across communities in Kwara and Oyo states, involving sensitization on improved cashew production and harvesting practices. Neelanjeri said that efforts of the company included training of farmers on good agriculture practices (GAP), providing pre-season finance, distribution of farming equipment, social and community programmes etc. He also said that sustainability philosophy of the organization centres around five main pillars such as prosperous farmers, thriving communities, sustainable choices, climate positive and regenerating the living world. “We want to partner our stakeholders with a sense of responsibility towards the society and the external environment and leave a sustainably positive impact through our activitiesâ€, he said. Director, Kwara Ministry of Agriculture, Mallam Kabiru Mohammed said that improved cashew production could only be achieved through implementation of modern cashew cultivation practices. He talked on “improvement in cashew farming system in Nigeria.†“Cashew is a commodity crop of international recognition and it is important in foreign exchange earnings. It has turned out to be a oil well given to us by divinity. But this can only be achieved through implementation of modern cashew cultivation. Thus, there’s need to move from subsistence to mechanized farming system most especially where there is vast land usage,†he said. Represented by Mr. Amole Nathaniel of the Nigeria Produce and Inspection Service in the ministry, the Director commended the company for its participatory efforts in rural Agrarian Infrastructural development programmes, saying that the efforts had encouraged well-being of the people and cashew industry at large.