NAN-AE-6
Herbs
By Martha Agas
Jos, Nov. 24, 2016 (NAN) Mr Suleiman Dilkwa, an agricultural investor, said on Wednesday that Small-scale Women Farmers of Nigeria (SWOFON) are the largest cultivators of herbs and spices in the country.
Dilkwa, who is the Chairman, Green Sahara Farms, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos.
He stated that his organisation, a social impact investment company, has been working closely with SWOFON over the years during which they have produced spices such as nutmeg, curry, and thyme.
“We are presently working with 300 women farmers, who are engaged in cultivating spices and have liaised with Tiger Foods Ltd, the second largest producer of spices in Africa, to establish a ready market for their products.
“Spices are widely used in our homes; everybody uses thyme, curry, rosemary, celery and others everyday as spices in our meals,’’ he said.
According to him, the organisation has trained 600 women on Coriander cultivation, farming best practices, group dynamics, rural financing, account and financial management.
He stated that this is in order to improve the farming practices of women farmers in Plateau and to educate them on international best farming practices for improved yield.
He said with the current policy of the government, power has being given to the farmers to play their role in the development of agro-allied and food processing industry.
Dikwa urged the Federal Government to ease small-scale women farmers’ access to micro-credit loans to enable them to expand and sustain their businesses for better yield and improved profit.
“The small-scale women farmers can be used as the pilot scheme for empowerment through access to micro-credit facilities.
“I believe it would have a multiplier effect on various sectors, because they will empower another set of farmers and the chain becomes continuous.
“It will help expand their production through access to farmlands and other farm inputs,’’ he explained. (NAN)
MAA/YEE
Edited by Emmanuel Yashim
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