Nigeria is set to become Africa’s second commercial cloves producer, with 74,000 farmers joining a nationwide initiative ahead of the 2026 wet season.
Malam Abdullahi Shuaibu, National Coordinator of the Cloves Producers Association, announced the plan at the North-West Farmers Training Workshop at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The program aims to boost domestic and international cloves production, generate foreign exchange, and create jobs across the country.
Each farmer will receive improved cloves seeds and inputs to cultivate half a hectare, with at least 2,000 participants from each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Cloves, a tropical plant suited to many Nigerian regions, are expected to meet both local and export demand, especially from food and pharmaceutical companies.
Prof. Mukhtar Abdullah of ABU’s Institute for Agricultural Research unveiled a training manual to guide farmers, youth, and women on cultivation, market practices, and international standards.
The initiative comes amid broader agricultural growth, with Nigeria’s sector expanding 3.79 per cent in Q3 2025, though challenges like insecurity, rising costs, and post-harvest losses could threaten food security for millions. The UN projects that 34.7 million Nigerians may face severe food insecurity in the coming lean season if interventions are not implemented.
