The Enugu State government has pledged its commitment to partnering with Moringa farmers in a bid to generate ₦11 billion annually from the sector.
The initiative aims to empower youth and create massive job opportunities through large-scale Moringa farming across the state.
To facilitate this, the government has allotted 1,000 hectares of land for Moringa cultivation, focusing on youth empowerment and social development.
Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the Moringa Productions, Marketers, and Farmers Welfare and Empowerment Association of Nigeria, the Enugu State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Patrick Umbu, emphasized the economic potential of Moringa farming.
“If fully harnessed, Moringa farming has the capacity to generate significant revenue for the government and drastically reduce unemployment, especially among youths and women,” Dr. Umbu stated.
“In our bid to diversify the economy, it is essential to channel our energy and resources into agriculture—particularly Moringa, which has the potential to transform our economy within a short time.”
In response, the Chairman of the Moringa Productions, Marketers, and Farmers Welfare and Empowerment Association of Nigeria, Dr. Michael Ashimashiga, requested government support in securing arable land for Moringa cultivation ahead of the rainy season.
Dr. Ashimashiga highlighted the immense potential of Moringa in revitalizing Nigeria’s economy, arguing that it could surpass the oil sector in economic impact if fully embraced by the government, youth, and women.
Also present at the meeting, the South-East Zonal Coordinator and Global Chairman of Adada General Assembly, Mr. Lazarus Ofili, commended the state government’s decision to pilot the project in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area.
He emphasized that the initiative would significantly contribute to the economic development of both the local community and the state at large.
Furthermore, the Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government, Mr. Joseph Chijioke, pledged his administration’s full support toward ensuring the project’s success.
END
