THE CHALLENGES OF KOLANUTS PROCESSING, TRADE AND EXPORT FROM NIGERIA AND OTHER SUB

Kolanuts have been an important trade item in the West African region for many centuries. There is dearth of recent and accurate information on the production figures of kolanuts and the volume of traded nuts and pr ices of produce exported from various sub -Saharan African countries. Information on kolanut production and marketing is scattered and not considered reliable. There are few statistics kept by government agencies as kola is not as important a national crop as coffee, cocoa, or other export crops. In Nigeria, the few literatures available are very old and not coherent. The issues of storage pests and diseases attack, pre -processing of nuts, storage and preservation and smuggling across boarder from producingcountries especially Nigeria are major factors affecting the industry. Kola farmers need to be adequately enlightened on the judicious use of alternative pesticides in controlling the effects of weevils, moulds and rots. This will help increase the quantit y and quality of kolanut for sale in local and international markets. The Government of producing countries should intensify effort through relevant stakeholders to bring kolanut into the mainstream of commodities in the global market. The study seeks to a ssess the challenges facing kolanut processing, trade and export from Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries.