The Redeemers College of Technology and Management and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, have partnered to establish a cashew nut plantation and processing plants at the polytechnic site.

The Head, Entrepreneurship Centre, RECTEM, Dr Suleman Onjewu, who represented the Rector of the institute, Dr Stella Mofunaya, disclosed this at an event to mark the collection of the seedlings, numbering about 500 in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Onjewu said the institute had acquired a large expanse of land in the Redemption Camp where it intends to plant the Brazilian jumbo cashew nut seedlings.

He said, “Not only in the establishment of this plantation, RECTEM and RMRDC are also in collaboration to establish cashew nuts processing plant in Redemption Camp. This is in a bid to support the production and processing of local raw materials.

“Once these nuts get to the United States, Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam, they process and extract the essential oil from them. So, several parts of cashew nut are essentially used industrially.”Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Odedina Odedele, represented by the Director, Tree Crops and Rural Services, James Oyesola expressed delight over the partnership, stating that it would be beneficial to farmers in the state.

Also speaking, the Ogun State Coordinator, RMRDC, Mr. Kayode Abiola, explained that when the plant becomes operational, the investment will generate employment, add value locally and generate foreign earnings when exported.