Boosting the cultivation of fluted pumpkin

[Mirror]

Telfairia accidentalis, commonly known as fluted pumpkin, is a tropical leaf vegetable. It is planted in many parts of Nigeria but more predominantly in the southern part.

Popularly called ugu, the plant is widely cultivated because of its palatable and nutritious leaves as well as its edible seeds. The young shoot and leaves of the plant are the main ingredients of a popular Nigerian soup called edikang ikong, while the seeds are rich in oil, which could be used for cooking and manufacturing of soap.

However, the major problem associated with the cultivation of fluted pumpkin, just like other fresh farm produce, is its high level of decay. It is a common sight to see bunches of decayed fluted pumpkin leaves litter many major markets because of the dearth of preservation facilities.

Yet, ugu is one of the most sought after leaf vegetable, not just in Nigeria but also in Europe. Currently, Kenya is the major exporter of the produce, while Nigeria is also known to be an exporter on a very limited scale.

However, experts insist that fluted pumpkin could become a major export commodity in Nigeria if its potential is properly harnessed. Mr Mike Kanu, the Deputy Director (Horticulture) of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that because of its potential, government included fluted pumpkin in the horticulture value chain. Kanu disclosed this in Umuahia recently during the distribution of telfairia (fluted pumpkin) seeds to farmers.

He said that the exercise was part of the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS), under the Federal Government's Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA).

"Ugu is popular in Nigeria and hardly can you go to any restaurant or big hotel without seeing a food prepared with the leaf as a major ingredient.

"Based on its importance in the economy, as it is a major source of income to some states in Nigeria; the Ministry of Agriculture approved the procurement of telfairia seeds for distribution to 200 vegetable farmers in five selected states of Abia, Ogun, Delta, Cross River and Imo,'' he said.

According to him, each of the farmers is expected to cultivate one hectare of telfairia farm, bringing the total to 200 hectares of telfairia farms.

"This is one of the vegetables that are in very high demand, especially outside Nigeria, and special attention has to be paid to its cultivation because we want to join Kenya in the international market," he said.

Moreover, Kanu said that 20 fresh produce growers were recently trained in Ogun by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with consultants from Kenya and the Agricultural Fresh Producers Growers and Exporters Association of Nigeria, among others. He stressed that the target was to produce and market 10 million U.S. dollars' worth of fresh farm produce, including ugu, okro, tomatoes, carrots and cucumber in 2013.

"Nigeria has a better advantage and what it takes to dominate the entire European market," he said. Mr Clement Iwunze, who is in charge of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in Imo, said that the current move to boost the cultivation of telfairia, under the ATA, was a good one, as it would check wastages and encourage farmers.

"This is a very good move because we can increase our foreign exchange by exporting horticultural produce.

"Every part of Nigeria is into horticulture and we grow these things, even more than Kenya and Ghana. "They came to pick the seeds from us but due to the fact that their products are well certified, they currently make huge sales abroad. The fact that we grow more crops than them is, however, irrelevant.

"Our minister is aware of Kenya's success story but we need to make sacrifices to push this programme forward, in efforts to place our produce where they should be in the international market," Iwunze said. Mrs Akudo John, a farmer, conceded that the cultivation of fluted pumpkin was a lucrative venture regardless of the fragile nature of the crop. "Ugu is in high demand everywhere but the problem is that it is a highly perishable crop.

"We make good money from its cultivation but if, per chance, you encounter some losses, you will almost regret venturing into the business," she said. John appealed to the government to introduce measures that would encourage ugu farmers, while making efforts to mop up excess produce, particularly during the peak of harvests. Mrs Nnennaya Uwadiegwu, a fluted pumpkin seller, said that the income of those in the vegetable business was unpredictable because of the erratic nature of fluted pumpkin's cultivation.

"One thing government should do is to keep encouraging us and if possible; aid our efforts to make the crop available all the year round.

"Ugu is one of the leaves that our people cannot do without," she said. Kanu, however, claimed the cultivation of ugu was not problematic, adding that its cultivation crop growing could also be structured to engender good harvests.

"If you want the plant to produce more leaves, you apply nitrogen- based fertilisers,'' he said.

"Towards the end of the rainy season, when it is time for podding; you stop harvesting the leaves to give room for podding," he added. Stakeholders want the government to sustain all the programmes aimed at boosting the cultivation of telfairia, saying that this would consequently boost the income of many ugu farmers across the country. (NANFeatures)

*Acha is of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

National Mirror

[Folami David]

Cultivation must happen every now and then for Agriculture to be taken seriously in this country. I hope it stays that way...