Farmers, under the aegis of Moringa Productions, Marketers and Farmers Welfare and Empowerment Association of Nigeria, have declared that moringa farming could generate about $3.750billion monthly to the nation’s economy, if 50 million youths are encouraged by the government to embark on its massive production through the provision of hectares of land and farm inputs.
They have, therefore, urged the federal and state governments to encourage the youths to engage in moringa farming to create millions of jobs and economically empower them for national development.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Association, Dr. Ashimashiga Akoloaga, noted at a media briefing on Monday in Abuja that this would reduce insecurity such as banditry, kidnapping, ritual killings, and other social vices, triggered by youth unemployment.
Akoloaga added that a country that empowers its citizens will not borrow money to develop its infrastructure.
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While underscoring the economic and health benefits of moringa, he informed that the commodity serves as raw materials for pharmaceutical industries, food, fertilizer, and animal feeds, among others.
He revealed that the association has begun to export moringa, adding that demand for the product was very high in foreign lands due to its high quality production in Nigeria.
According to him, moringa has the biggest foreign exchange potential in the country.
Akoloaga further explained that the cultivation of moringa would help to mitigate climate change and global warming.
As part of the measures to empower members of the association and Nigerians, he disclosed that they would introduce by next year agricultural inputs and consultancy services as well as equipment leasing services to boost moringa farming as well as create jobs.
He stated that the association has supported farmers in various agricultural value chains through the provision of loans at 9 per cent interest rate as well as off-take of all the produce of its members and other interested farmers.
In his remarks, the Secretary General/ National Coordinator of the association, Dr. Shuaibu Adamu tasked the government and key stakeholders to support the cultivation of moringa to create jobs for the teeming youths and defeat poverty in the country.
Adamu further urged the government, particularly, states to desist from politicising issues that have direct bearing on the welfare and well-being of the citizenry.
He stated that the association was poised to organise international moringa summit as well as conduct general elections at state, local government areas and ward levels to ensure proper management and coordination of the group across the country.