How to start Cashew Nut business in Nigeria

“Cashew nut is high delicious edible kidney-shaped nut (fruit), rich in oil and protein, which is roasted and shelled before it can be eaten". The fruit has two major colors (Red and White/ grey). Oil extracted from the shells is used as a lubricant, in the production of  plastics, Paints, presentation as kola to visitors, preparing of sweet dishes, etc.

Delicately sweet yet crunchy and delicious cashew nut is packed with energy, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins that are essential for robust health. Cashew nuts “caju” as popularly known in Portugal are abundant sources of essential minerals. Minerals, especially manganese, potassium, copper, iron, magnesium, zinc ... is one of the popular ingredients in sweet as well savory dishes worldwide.

As far back as 1967, Tyman and Morris described the competition Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL)the economic importance of this special tree is such that, while the tree is native to Central and South America, it is now widely distributed throughout the tropics, particularly in many parts of Africa (Nigeria) and Asia. The Cashew tree can tolerate a wide rang of conditions including drought and poor soil, but cannot withstand cold frost.The major producing countries of Cashew are Tanzania,India,Mozambique, Srilanka, while the largest is Nigeria.

 Botanically, cashew is an average sized tropical evergreen tree belonging to the Anacardiaceae family, in the genus: Anacardium. Scientific name: Anacardium occidentale.

The cashew tree is native to Brazil’s Amazon rain forest. It spread all over the planet by Portuguese explorers, it is cultivated at commercial scale in Brazil, Vietnam, India and in many African countries of which Nigeria is the largest producer among  them all today.

Cashew tree bears numerous, edible, pear shaped false fruits or “accessory fruits'” called "cashew apples." Cashew nut which actually is a “true-fruit”, firmly attaching to bottom end of cashew-apple, appearing like a clapper in the bell. Botanically, this tiny, bean shaped, grey “true fruit” is a drupe, featuring hard outer shell enclosing a single edible kernel known commercially as “cashew nut.”

Its exterior shell composes a phenolic resin, urushiol, which is a potent caustic skin irritant toxin. In the processing units, this outer shell is roasted under high flame in order to destroy urushiol resin, and only then underlying edible cashew kernel is extracted.

Cashew nut measures about an inch in length, 1/2 inches in diameter, and kidney or bean shape, with smooth curvy pointed tip. Each nut splits into two equal halves as in legumes. Cashews featurec ream white color with the firm yet delicate texture and smooth surface.

 BENEFITS OF CASHEW NUTS/SEEDS

• Cashews are high in calories. 100g of nuts provide 553 calories. They are packed with soluble dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and numerous health-promoting phyto-chemicals that help protect from diseases and cancers.
• They are rich in “heart-friendly” monounsaturated-fatty acids like oleic, and palmitoleic acids. These essential fatty acids help lower harmful LDL-cholesterol while increasing good HDL cholesterol in the blood. Research studies suggest that Mediterranean diet which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids help to prevent coronary artery disease and strokes by favoring healthy blood lipid profile.
• Cashew nuts are abundant sources of essential minerals. Minerals, especially manganese, potassium, copper, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium are concentrated in these nuts. A handful of cashew nuts a day in the diet would provide enough of these minerals and may help prevent deficiency diseases. Selenium is an important micronutrient, which functions as a co-factor for antioxidant enzymes such as Glutathione peroxidases, one of the most powerful antioxidants in the body. Copper is a cofactor for many vital enzymes, including cytochrome c-oxidase and superoxide dismutase (other minerals function as co-factors for this enzyme are manganese and zinc). Zinc is a co-factor for many enzymes that regulate growth and development, gonadal function, digestion, and DNA (nucleic acid) synthesis.
• Cashews are also good in many essential vitamins such as pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), riboflavin, and thiamin (vitamin B-1). 100 g nuts provide 0.147 mg or 32% of daily-recommended levels of pyridoxine. Pyridoxine reduces the risk of homocystinuria, and sideroblastic anemia. Niacin helps prevent "pellagra" or dermatitis. Additionally, these vitamins are essential for metabolism of protein, fat, and carbohydrates at the cellular level.
• Cashew is the major ingredient in Indian cuisine especially in Indian desserts, kaju barfi and korma
   
• Further, the nuts are also hold a small amount of zea-xanthin, an important pigment falconoid antioxidant, which selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea in the eyes. It is thought to provide antioxidant and protective UV ray filtering functions and helps prevent age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) in the elderly. Cashew fruits can serve as appetizer.
• Women and children picks up the fruits free from the plantation and sold it for money in the markets and along the streets, provided the seeds are kept for owner of the plantation.
• To start your research on cashew nut business, you must contact a seasoned cashew nut farmer or agent to make inquiries about the business. You will need to find out:
  • The required startup capital
  • How to find local (farmers in the village) sellers (suppliers)
  • How to find buyers in foreign countries
  • How to identify high quality cashew nuts.(42 - 54 KOR) for Nigeria quality
  • How to process and package your nuts for shipping
  • How to choose a shipping company and agent, and so on.
  Equipping yourself adequately with relevant information about the business will help you plan your business well and avoid all the pitfalls associated with starting and running the business.
   

ABILITY TO SUPPLY:

 We are in control of large number of cashew plantations in our area and can supply large number of cashew seeds to buyers through out the world market.


 How to collect the seeds/nuts: Vester Royal Business Magnet Company employed services of young men and women that does the picking from cashew plantations being controlled by us. After the picking and drying the cashew nuts, we have to measure it in bags and scaled ready for sale to companies that will export it to oversea countries such as India, etc. Bags and scales are to be provided to farmers in advance by exporting companies through us. We also source and buy from other farmers in case of larger supply that is above our production capacity.

                                                     

R	Country	Production (Metric Tons)
1.	Nigeria	1,939,688
2.	Vietnam	1,237,300
3.	India	680,000
4.	Côte d’Ivoire	450,000
5.	Benin	170,000
6.	Philippines	132,541
7.	Guinea	131,000
8.	Tanzania	131,874
9.	Indonesia	124,320
10.	Brazil	82,336

SOURCES OF INITIAL CAPITAL: 
 Savings: This is money saved from other previous sources. (2) Loans. Some of them go out to relations and friends to obtain a loan.This may or may not attract interest of agreed percentage. (3)  An advance payment: This is a kind of loan but without interest. Advance payment is normally  made by cashew nut buying companies early before the season. The purchasing company must provide bags and scale early enough to enable successful take off of the business.

For more details: Pay a non refundable KYC form fee  of N10,500   into our company's account or pay cash in our office,obtain payment receipt and then send text message to 08036721009, 07088788710 or send email to bizideasvester@gmail.com stating amount paid, purpose of payment and branch of the bank you paid in the money, including date of payment and mode of payment.
 

ACCOUNT NAME :VESTER ROYAL BUSINESS MAGNET COMPANY
S/NO	BANKERS	ACCOUNT NO
1	ZENITH BANK	1013355170
2	ECOBANK	4392017160
3	FIRST BANK	2031464097

After payment text details of payment including your e-mail address to any of the above numbers.