FG Okays N263m for Arabic Gum Seedlings

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The sum of N263 million has been approved by the Federal Government for the production of Arabic gum seedlings for Nigerian farmers and for export.

Minister of Agriculture, Mr Audu Ogbeh, told journalists on Wednesday that the money was approved for three research institutions to carry out this assignment.

Mr Ogbeh, while addressing newsmen at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by the Acting President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo, in Abuja, noted that similar efforts were on to boost cassava production in the country.

He emphasised that in 2016, Nigeria earned as much as $43 million from export of Arabic gum, also known as acacia gum, and that more would be earned with increased production, especially now that the commodity was in high demand in 17 other countries.

Arabic gum is a natural gum consisting of the hardened sap of various species of the acacia tree. It was originally collected from Acacia nilotica which was called the “gum arabic tree” in the present day.

It is predominantly collected from two related species, namely Acacia senegal and Vachellia (Acacia) seyal.

Producers harvest the gum commercially from wild trees, mostly in Sudan (80%) and throughout the Sahel, from Senegal to Somalia—though it is historically cultivated in Arabia and West Asia.

Among its usefulness are for pain relief and irritation, healing of wound, soothing of coughs and sore throats, oral health promotion, good source of fibre, body fat reduction and more.