By Faridat Salifu
Nigeria is set to inaugurate its first large-scale cloves farming initiative in the 2026 wet season, involving more than 74,000 farmers nationwide.
The Cloves Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria announced the programme at the end of the North-West Farmers Training of Trainers Workshop at the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, last Saturday.
Abdullahi Shuaibu, national coordinator of the association, said the maiden edition of cloves farming will include at least 2,000 farmers from each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He described cloves as a tropical crop suitable for cultivation across many parts of Nigeria and said each participating farmer will receive quality seeds and inputs to cultivate half a hectare of cloves.
Shuaibu said the initiative aims to tap into domestic and international demand for cloves, particularly from food and pharmaceutical companies, and will make Nigeria the second African country after Zanzibar, Tanzania, to produce cloves commercially.
He added that the programme has the potential to boost foreign exchange earnings and create employment opportunities for youth.
Maijidda Abdulkadir, state treasurer of the association’s Kaduna chapter, said Kaduna State, already a leading ginger producer, would fully embrace the initiative.
She highlighted that the programme seeks to reduce poverty, create jobs, and empower women farmers, ensuring inclusive participation.
Abdulkadir confirmed that improved clove seeds were sourced from Tanzania and called on state governments to provide support for the initiative.
Aminu-Yahaya Masanawa, financial adviser to the association, said cloves cultivation is more profitable than grains and many other vegetable crops.
He noted that the programme will also help farmers recover from recent losses caused by sudden crashes in farm produce prices.
“Once production begins, Nigeria will move from being a net importer of cloves to a potential exporter, generating additional foreign exchange revenue,” he said.
Supporting the initiative, Mukhtar Abdullah of IAR, ABU, Zaria, unveiled a training manual on clove cultivation, offering step-by-step guidance for farmers, extension agents, and agripreneurs.
Abdullah said the guide covers cultivation practices, market analysis, and international best practices.
He stressed the programme’s broader benefits for rural economic empowerment, food security, and sustainable income generation for youth and women.
