Nigeria Set To Resumes Export Of Hibiscus
Nigeria is set to set to commence the exportation of Hibiscus, commonly known as Zobo, to Mexico.
Vincent Isegbe, the Coordinating Director of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to Isegbe, Nigeria exported 1,983 containers of hibiscus to Mexico alone and earned $35 million within nine months of 2017.
The NAQS had initially suspended the export following the detection of storage pest in some consignments from Nigeria.
He assured that “the issue has now been taken care of”.
He noted that the issue was resolved in collaboration with stakeholders across the value chain, adding that Mexico is the largest importer of Nigerian hibiscus.
“Nigeria is ready to resume export of the plant to Mexico. In a couple of weeks, we will resume shipments.
“Our farmers are eager and the fields are near ready. The harvest season of hibiscus will start any moment from now.
“And the good news is that Nigeria has a vast growing belt, with harvest available all year round.
“We need to take advantage of this opportunity to earn foreign exchange for the country and support the present administration’s diversification of the economy,” he said.
Isegbe, however, called on farmers to show more commitment to growing the plant in order to increase their income.
