Nigeria restarts export of hibiscus to Mexico

Nigeria rakes in $35 million from Zobo export in 9 months

The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) on Tuesday, said Nigeria would resume the export of hibiscus, popularly known as Zobo, to Mexico.

The Coordinating Director of NAQS, Dr Vincent Isegbe, made the disclosure an interview with reporters in Abuja.

According to him, Nigeria exported 1,983 containers of hibiscus to Mexico alone in 2017 and earned $35 million within nine months of that year.

Isegbe explained that NAQS initially suspended the export following the detection of storage pest in some consignments from Nigeria.

He said the issue has now been taken care of hence the resumption of export of the plant.

Isegbe said that the issue was resolved in collaboration with stakeholders across the value chain, adding that Mexico is the largest importer of Nigerian hibiscus.

He said, “Nigeria is ready to resume export of the plant to Mexico and in a couple of weeks 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.”

The NAQS chief, however, called on farmers to show more commitment to growing the plant in order to increase their income.