Northeast farmers urge support for pumpkin

…..Adamawa, Bauchi, Yobe, others attended
The Processors and Marketing Association of Nigeria (PUGMAN), Northeast zone, has stated that if the farming of pumpkin is properly harnessed, the commodity also known as Ugu, can contribute greatly to the country’s foreign exchange earnings, create employment as well as serve as solution to Nigeria’s economic woes.

Speaking during PUGMAN’s National Stakeholders’ Meeting and Awareness/Enlightenment campaign for Northeast zone held at BSADP, Bauchi, the association’s National President, Engr. Uche Ihugba explained that, “Pumpkins is continually becoming a fast growing crop for Nigeria’s producers; and we want to continually promote the production for consumption at home as well as for export purposes.”

According to Ihugba, Ugu is one of the best crops they have planted, saying that, “It’s easy to plant, grows very fast and ready to harvest in just six weeks”.

He added that, “the beauty of Ugu is, it is cash flow. From the time it reaches maturity, you can harvest and sell it every week.”

While highlighting the various socio-economic and medical importance of pumpkin in the society, Ihugba urged the three tiers of government to beam their search light on harnessing the potentials in the growing, production and marketing of the product on a large scale in their quest to transforming the socio-economic and health development of the nation.

In an address earlier, the vice president of the association in the zone, Alhaji Samaila Burga, who is also a big time farmer expressed the determination of pumpkin farmers in the region to embark on large scale farming of the farm product in commercial quantities for both domestic consumption and other benefits.

Also speaking, a farmer and chairman, House Committee on Health and Human Services, Gombe State House of Assembly, Hon. Bature Usman Gwani noted that with the landmass in the northeast, farmers have the capacity to grow the ugu plant in large quantities and produce for both local consumption and for export purposes.

“Since agriculture in Nigeria is a branch of the nation’s economy, providing employment for over 35 per cent of the population, the mass unemployed youths roaming the streets should take advantage of the benefits derivable from the growing, processing and marketing of pumpkin and engage in Ugu farming.”
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Some of the participants, who were drawn from Bauchi, Adamawa, Gombe, Borno, Taraba and Yobe states who spoke to our correspondent, said that they have been cultivating Ugu before, but it was just for domestic consumption.