The federal government of Nigeria, through the office of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, has entered into a strategic partnership with the City of Atlanta, United States, to cultivate and export Sunflower and Jatropha Curcas.
The collaboration, spearheaded by the ministry’s head, Minister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, aims to empower women-owned businesses, alleviate poverty, create jobs, and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Kennedy-Ohanenye in a statement obtained by The Nation, said the Ministry has secured land space in various dams across the country to facilitate the cultivation of these valuable plants as part of the partnership.
“The realised profits from the project will be shared among participating women entrepreneurs. This initiative is expected to have a transformative impact on the lives of Nigerian women and the nation’s economy,” she said.
The Minister urged Nigerians to seize the significant opportunity presented by the cultivation of sunflower and jatropha curcas.
According to her, “These crops, highly sought after in European and American markets for their diverse applications, demonstrate exceptional growth potential in Nigeria.
“While it takes over seven months to cultivate sunflowers in Europe, they mature in just ten to thirteen weeks in our country.
“Similarly, the jatropha curcas plant, traditionally associated with arid regions, can be harvested in eight months in Nigeria, compared to eighteen months in Europe and America.”
Kennedy-Ohanenye in addition, assured that collective investment in these crops can significantly improve women’s empowerment as well as the nation’s economy.
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