By Jimoh Babatunde

In a bold move to rejuvenate Nigeria’s cashew industry, Hastom Nigeria has announced the launch of a 5,000-unit Cashew Revival Plan aimed at replacing aging and unproductive cashew plantations in Ogbomoso, a region in Oyo state known to produce the best quality cashew nuts in Nigeria.

Each unit of the revival initiative will consist a minimum of 100 high-yield cashew trees, bringing the total number of trees under the program to an impressive 500,000. The initiative marks one of the largest private-sector cashew rehabilitation efforts in Southwest Nigeria and signals a new chapter for cashew agribusiness in the region.

The Cashew Revival Plan is designed to modernize outdated cashew farms, improve nut quality, and dramatically increase yields for local and diaspora-absentee farmers. By phasing out old trees, many of which were planted decades ago and no longer produce optimally, Hastom aims to restore profitability and sustainability to cashew farming in Nigeria.

“Cashew remains top 2 Nigeria’s foreign exchange earner, and yet its potential is still not fully explored” said a spokesperson for Hastom. “Through this revival project, we’re reimagining cashew plantations as long-term, high-performance agricultural assets. This is about creating value, restoring soil health, and positioning Ogbomoso as a powerhouse in global cashew supply.”

The program will also integrate modern agronomic practices, improved cashew varieties, and access to market linkage services. According to the company, beneficiaries and investors in the Cashew Revival Plan will receive end-to-end support, including land preparation, tree planting, and ongoing farm management over a multi-year period.

This development aligns with Nigeria’s broader push for agricultural transformation, as stakeholders increasingly look to cash crops like cashew to diversify the economy, create rural jobs, and generate foreign exchange earnings.

Local and absentee farmers living around the globe have welcomed the initiative, seeing it as a timely intervention to restore productivity and profitability. “Most of our trees are old, and yields have been declining. What Hastom is offering is exactly what this region needs to reclaim its status in the cashew sector,” said one of the participating farm owners.

With this 5,000-unit rollout, Hastom is not only reinforcing its commitment to sustainable agribusiness but also setting a precedent for how private innovation can revitalize agricultural legacies.