FG, Atlanta partner on Sunflower, Jatropha Curcas export
The Federal Government of Nigeria, through 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.
A post by the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye on her X handle on Sunday, said that the collaboration was aimed to empower women-owned businesses, alleviate poverty, create jobs, and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.
“As part of this partnership, the Ministry has secured land space in various dams across the country to facilitate the cultivation of these valuable plants. The realized 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”, said Kennedy-Ohanenye.
The Minister urged all Nigerians to seize the significant opportunity presented by the cultivation of sunflower and jatropha curcas, adding ” 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”, She added.
The Minister of Women Affairs said that collective investment in the crops can drive a substantial turnaround for women’s empowerment and the nation’s economy.
