Nigeria is set to enter the global cloves market for the first time as a new commercial farming initiative targeting crop diversification, export growth and rural job creation is scheduled to begin in the 2026 wet season.
The initiative, announced at the close of a farmers’ training workshop in Zaria, will roll out as a nationwide pilot involving more than 74,000 farmers, with no fewer than 2,000 participants drawn from each state and the Federal Capital Territory. Participating farmers are expected to receive improved clove seedlings and basic production inputs to cultivate half a hectare each, marking the country’s first coordinated effort to grow cloves on a commercial scale.
Cloves are a high-value tropical spice widely used in food processing, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, with strong demand in both local and international markets. Organisers of the programme say Nigeria’s diverse ecological zones are suitable for cloves cultivation, positioning the country to become the second commercial producer of the crop in Africa after Tanzania’s Zanzibar.
For smallholder farmers and agribusinesses, the project presents a new income stream at a time when many producers are struggling with price volatility in grains and vegetables. By introducing a crop with relatively higher export value and profitability, the initiative is expected to help stabilise farm incomes, improve rural livelihoods and reduce farmers’ exposure to frequent market crashes.
The programme also carries significant implications for youth and women participation in agriculture. Stakeholders involved in the project say the cloves value chain, from nursery development and farming to processing, packaging and export, could create inclusive job opportunities while strengthening Nigeria’s non-oil export base. With Kaduna State already recognised for ginger production, the expansion into cloves is seen as reinforcing the state’s growing reputation as a spice hub and opening doors for small-scale processors and marketers.
Improved clove seeds for the pilot phase have already been sourced from Tanzania, while calls have been made for state governments to support the initiative through enabling policies, extension services and infrastructure. Such support, stakeholders argue, will be critical to ensuring farmers meet international quality and phytosanitary standards required for export markets.
From an MSME perspective, the cloves project could stimulate new agribusiness clusters around seedling production, aggregation, processing and logistics. As production scales, Nigeria could transition from being a net importer of cloves to an exporter, earning foreign exchange and strengthening resilience against global commodity shocks.
To support successful implementation, a comprehensive training manual has been developed to guide farmers, extension agents and agripreneurs on best practices. The manual covers cultivation techniques, climate-smart agriculture, quality control, market access and compliance with international standards, aiming to ensure sustainability beyond the pilot phase.
If effectively implemented, the cloves farming initiative could play a strategic role in Nigeria’s broader agricultural diversification drive, offering long-term income security for farmers while expanding opportunities for MSMEs across the agricultural value chain.
