The Cloves Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria has announced the commencement of the country’s maiden cloves farming initiative during the 2026 wet farming season.
The National Coordinator of the association, Mr Abdullahi Shuaibu, disclosed this at the close of the North-West Farmers Training of Trainers Workshop held at the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, on Saturday.
Shuaibu said the pilot phase of the initiative would involve no fewer than 2,000 farmers from each of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), bringing the total number of participants to over 74,000 nationwide.
He described cloves as a tropical crop capable of thriving in many parts of Nigeria.
According to him, each participating farmer will receive improved clove seeds and essential farming inputs to cultivate half a hectare of land.
“The initiative is designed to tap into the huge domestic and international demand for cloves, particularly from the food and pharmaceutical industries.
“Nigeria will become the second African country, after Zanzibar in Tanzania, to produce cloves commercially.
“This development promises to be a game-changer for foreign exchange earnings and youth employment,” Shuaibu said.
The State Treasurer of the association’s Kaduna chapter, Ms Maijidda Abdulkadir, said Kaduna State, already renowned for ginger production, would fully embrace the initiative.
She said the programme was aimed at reducing poverty, creating jobs and empowering women farmers, while ensuring inclusiveness.
Abdulkadir confirmed that the pilot scheme had secured improved clove seeds from Tanzania and appealed to state governments to support the initiative.
Similarly, the association’s Financial Adviser, Mr Aminu-Yahaya Masanawa, said clove production was more profitable than grains and many other vegetable crops.
He explained that the programme would also serve as a buffer against losses suffered by farmers due to sudden crashes in produce prices.
“Once production begins, Nigeria will move from being a net importer of cloves to a potential exporter, thereby earning additional foreign exchange,” he said.
In support of the initiative, Prof. Mukhtar Abdullah of IAR, ABU, Zaria, unveiled a comprehensive training manual on clove cultivation.
He said the manual provides step-by-step guidance for farmers, extension agents and agripreneurs, covering cultivation practices, market analysis and international best practices.
Shuaibu further highlighted the broader benefits of the programme, including rural economic empowerment, food security and sustainable income generation for youths and women.
