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By Chinyere Anyanwu
In an effort to broaden production, the federal government has inaugurated its maiden nationwide cloves farming programme for the 2026 wet season, with more than 74,000 farmers expected to participate across the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory.
This was revealed by the Cloves Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria at the end of the North-West Farmers Training of Trainers Workshop held at the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria recently.
Speaking at the event, the association’s National Coordinator, Abdullahi Shuaibu, said at least 2,000 farmers would be selected from each state and the FCT to participate in the pilot phase.
He stated that cloves, a tropical crop, can thrive in many ecological zones in Nigeria, making it suitable for large-scale cultivation across the country.
Under the scheme, each participating farmer will receive improved seeds and essential inputs to cultivate half a hectare of clove farm.
“The initiative is designed to tap into the growing domestic and international demand for cloves, especially from the food and pharmaceutical industries,” Shuaibu said, adding that Nigeria would become the second African country, after Zanzibar in Tanzania, to produce cloves commercially, describing the programme as a potential boost for foreign exchange earnings and youth employment.
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Kaduna State Treasurer of the association, Maijidda Abdulkadir, said the state would fully embrace the programme, building on its strength in ginger production.
She noted that the initiative would help reduce poverty, create jobs and empower women farmers, adding that improved clove seeds had already been secured from Tanzania.
She also called on state governments to support the scheme to ensure its sustainability.
In his remarks, the association’s Financial Adviser, Aminu-Yahaya Masanawa, said cloves production was more profitable than grains and many vegetable crops, and could serve as a buffer against recent price crashes in farm produce.
“Once production begins, Nigeria will move from being a net importer of cloves to a potential exporter, generating additional foreign exchange,” he said.
Also speaking, Prof. Mukhtar Abdullah of IAR, ABU, Zaria, unveiled a comprehensive training manual on clove cultivation, covering production techniques, market analysis and international best practices.
Stakeholders said the programme would contribute to rural economic empowerment, job creation and sustainable income generation for youths and women across the country.
