Farmers under the aegis of Moringa Productions, Marketers, and Farmers Welfare and Empowerment Association of Nigeria have called on the Federal and State Governments to prioritize youth involvement in moringa farming.
According to them, such initiatives could create millions of jobs and empower youth financially, thereby contributing to national development.
Dr. Ashimashiga Akoloaga, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Association, made this appeal during a media briefing held in Nyanya, Abuja.
He emphasized the enormous economic potential of moringa farming, asserting that if 50 million youths were supported to engage in its cultivation, the sector could inject approximately $3.75 billion monthly into the Nigerian economy.
He urged the government to facilitate this by providing access to land, farm inputs, and other resources necessary for large-scale moringa production.
Speaking on the implications of youth unemployment, Akoloaga remarked that increased engagement in moringa farming could serve as a tool to address insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, ritual killings, and other social vices.
“A nation that economically empowers its citizens will reduce its dependence on external borrowing for infrastructure development,” he added.
Akoloaga underscored the benefits of moringa, which serves as a critical raw material for pharmaceutical industries, food production, fertilizer manufacturing, and animal feed processing.
He further revealed that Nigerian moringa has gained significant demand internationally, with the Association actively exporting the commodity due to its high quality. “Moringa has the potential to become Nigeria’s most significant foreign exchange earner,” he noted.
In addressing environmental concerns, Akoloaga highlighted moringa’s role in mitigating climate change and combating global warming.
He also announced that the Association plans to expand its support to farmers by offering agricultural inputs, consultancy, and equipment leasing services starting next year.
This initiative aims to boost moringa farming while creating additional employment opportunities.
Additionally, Akoloaga stated that the Association has supported farmers across various agricultural value chains by providing loans at a nine percent interest rate and guaranteeing the purchase of all produce from its members and other interested farmers.
Dr. Shuaibu Adamu, Secretary-General and National Coordinator of the Association, also spoke at the briefing, urging the government and relevant stakeholders to prioritize moringa cultivation.
He stressed that promoting this crop could create employment opportunities for the youth and alleviate poverty on a national scale.
Adamu cautioned against the politicization of initiatives that directly impact citizens’ welfare, calling on states to focus on measures that genuinely benefit the people.
He further disclosed plans by the Association to host an International Moringa Summit and conduct elections at state, local government, and ward levels to enhance the Association’s coordination and management nationwide.