Ademilua Adebola, a specialist and member of America Chemical Society, on Sunday, September 22, 2019, advised the Federal Government to diversify Nigeria’s economy to agriculture without wasting time.
Speaking with NAN in Ibadan on the economic and health importance of locust beans, Dr. Adebola declared that in doing this the Federal and states governments should focus more on high quality production of locust beans.
She maintained that if Nigeria ”is to stop the importation of some raw material that can be locally substituted by using locust beans”, the time is now to give the needed attention to production of locust beans in the country.
Adebola who is a Chemist and Medical Science Educator maintained that ”locust beans could generate enough income for Nigeria if necessary steps are taking by both states and federal governments to enhance and modernize the production of locust beans.
“This is the right time for Nigeria to diversify its economy to agriculture. Locust beans is one of the crops that should be considered because Nigeria is a global leader in its production; the country needs to increase its production.” she said.
Adebola urged the Federal Government to assist in the production of locust beans “because of its added value and its high demand for both nutrition and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders like ulcer and diarrhoea’’.
“It is high time the country needs to improve and invest in the production of locust beans in order to stop the importation of tocopherol which can be got abundantly from locust beans.”
Speaking on the economic importance of locust beans, she said “with enough quantity of locust beans which can be substituted for imported tocopherol, it would enhance and improve Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, as well as creating employment opportunities”.
“To work along the value chain from production to market, one has to consider productivity and adding values.To add value to a product that is desired in the market, one has to be competitive and being competitive means that one has to lower the cost of production and that is where the government needs to come in.Lowering the production cost will ensure that the product sells at a price where one can take care of the production cost and also have good profit”.
She however advocated proper training and improved agronomic practices, saying, ” now locust beans can find its into global market and that with proper consumption, locust beans can cure hypertension, diabetics, ulcer and diahorrea.
“Locust beans is antibacterial, antihypertensive, antidiabetics and effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders like ulcer and diarrhoea”.
