The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has revealed that with the resumption of hibiscus flower exportation to Mexico, after about two-and- half-year ban, Nigeria now exports 15 containers more of the decorative and medicinal plant to the North American country.
This was disclosed by the director, Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA), Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Hajiya Karimatu Babangida, who was represented by Alhaji Muhammad Shehu during a two-day stakeholders meeting on promotion and development of the hibiscus value chain for income generation, job creation, food and nutrition security in Kano.
She said with the resumption of the exportation of the commodity to other countries, it was revealed that Nigeria’s economic status had witnessed a remarkable positive development.
She explained that as a result of the commodity’s economic importance to Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture had charted hibiscus flower into the national budget.
She added that to boost and avert future occurrence of the ugly experience of the ban, the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), in collaboration with the organised private sector, had established a methyl-bromide fumigation treatment facility in Lagos to ensure smooth export of the product, as well as ensure quality.
Similarly, the head, Horticulture Division of the FDA, Mrs Omotoso Agbani, said the meeting was to engage stakeholders and hibiscus regulatory agencies on ways to drive production and marketing forward.
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