The Jigawa Government has established a fumigation chamber and modern cleaning and processing facility for hibiscus flower, known as zobo in Hausa, to boost export of the product, an official said on Wednesday.
Hajiya Furera Isma-Jumare, Director-General, Jigawa Investment Promotion Agency, said the chamber and processing facility was established at the Maigatari Export Processing Zone, in partnership with Comttraex Nigeria Ltd.
She made this known in Dutse during a seminar on Value Addition for Export, organised by the agency for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.
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Isma-Jumare said the chamber would commence operation in a few weeks, and was established to address the rejection of hibiscus exports from the EPZ.
She added that the agency and the firm would transform the hibiscus value chain and make the state a hub for the production and processing of the commodity in Nigeria.
“This initiative is expected to unlock the industry’s full potential, driving economic growth and creating opportunities for local farmers and sustainable development in the region and boost exportation of the product,” the DG said.
She added that the state government would support initiatives to make the state the leader in not only hibiscus production, but also dominant in processing of raw materials for export.
On the seminar, Isma-Jumare said it was organised to prompt MSMEs to take the lead in the state’s economy.
She said that the agency would encourage the MSMEs to ramp up value addition to their products so as to benefit from the export market.
“Our state is endowed with abundant resources and it is time we leverage these resources to their fullest potential.
”In September this year, according to newspaper reports, Nigeria Shippers Council stated that 75% of exported farm produce in Nigeria is from North West zone.
“This underscores the pivotal role that our MSMEs can play in this space and their potential impact on the global market.
”I believe the presentations and discussions will provide valuable insights and strategies for our MSMEs to enhance their production processes and elevate the quality of their goods and services,” Isma-Jumare added.
She therefore, urged the participants to network for collaboration with the agency, to ensure the export of their products not as raw materials, but as finished goods.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that resource persons from Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Nigerian Shippers Council, Dala Inland Dry Port, Nigeria Customs Service and Window of Turkey, made presentations during the seminar.
Earlier, Mr Danlami Haladu, the state Secretary of Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists, and Malam Nuhu Hussaini, Chairman, Dutse Union of the Marketers, commended the agency for the seminar.
