Nigeria is set to become Africa’s second commercial cloves producer as 74,000 farmers prepare to join the maiden nationwide cloves farming initiative ahead of the 2026 wet season.
Malam Abdullahi Shuaibu, National Coordinator of the Cloves Producers Association, made the disclosure at the North-West Farmers Training Workshop at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, on Saturday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The program is intended to boost domestic and international cloves production, generate foreign exchange, and create employment opportunities across the country.
According to Shuaibu, the maiden cloves farming initiative will involve at least 2,000 farmers from each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), totaling over 74,000 participants nationwide.
Each farmer will receive improved cloves seeds and essential inputs to cultivate half a hectare of cloves.
Cloves, a tropical plant that can grow in many parts of Nigeria, are expected to meet both domestic and international demand, particularly from food and pharmaceutical companies.
“The initiative is planned to make Nigeria the second African country, after Zanzibar in Tanzania, to produce cloves commercially.
“The initiative is designed to tap into the huge domestic and international demand for cloves, particularly from food and pharmaceutical companies.
“Nigeria will become the second African country after Zanzibar, Tanzania, to produce cloves commercially,” Shuaibu said.
The NAN report noted that association officials said the program could significantly boost foreign exchange earnings while creating jobs for youth and women. Kaduna State, a leading ginger producer, has pledged full support for the initiative.
Supporting the initiative, Prof. Mukhtar Abdullah of IAR, ABU, unveiled a comprehensive training manual. The guide, the report noted, provides step-by-step instructions on cultivation practices, market analysis, and international best practices.
It is intended to assist farmers, youth, and women in rural communities participating in the cloves farming program.
The cloves initiative comes as Nigeria’s agricultural sector continues to recover and grow, contributing to overall economic performance.
Compared to the previous quarter, growth improved by 1.34 percentage points. Crop production remained dominant, accounting for 65.99% of the sector’s total nominal value.
While the cloves initiative offers hope, Nigeria may face a severe food crisis in 2026.
The worsening situation is linked to conflicts in food-producing regions, economic shocks, and organized crime, particularly affecting Benue, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau states.
The worsening situation is linked to conflicts in food-producing regions, economic shocks, and organized crime, particularly affecting Benue, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau states.