Director-General, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Obi Adigwe, has called for the establishment of dedicated farmlands for the cultivation and processing of herbal medicinal plants in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He made the call in Abuja while briefing newsmen as part of activities to mark this year’s African Traditional Medicine Day.
He said many state governors were not interested in investing in herbal medicine, which, according to him, is a multi-billion dollar sector that has the capacity to create jobs, foreign exchange and generate income for the states.
He said, “Governors need to understand the potential that is in their backyards because a simple phyto medicinal project in their states will ensure that one million farmers, one million local women, one million youth are actively engaged in jobs.
“The products will also yield output which can be exported or sold in the market once it gets NAFDAC registration.”
He said the NIPRD had engaged all the 36 state governors on investment in herbal medicine but was disappointed with the level of response from them.
“Only a handful of them recognize the potential in the herbal medicine sector. There is no state in Nigeria that does not have plants that have potential to generate high-quality pharmaceutical products as well as to earn revenue, “ he said.
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