Nigeria is home to a wide range of plant species with medicinal value, but the potential of many of these is yet to be unearthed, reports an article in Punch.

Cultivation of these plants through specialized agriculture and agroforestry techniques can be a viable business that not only supports local manufacturers but also generates export income and employment.

One prime example is the Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) for which there is already an existing market. The tree grows naturally in most of West Africa, including in many parts of Nigeria. While the tree takes considerable time to bear fruit (around 10 to 15) years, one it attains full production, it can remain productive for up to 200 years, yielding an average of 15 to 20 kilograms of fruit per tree.

In Africa, Shea butter is used in a wide range of skin and hair products. It is also used in candle making and in treating wood to increase the durability of some musical instruments

Shea butter is extracted from the nut of the tree through crushing, roasting and grinding and separating the butter from the resulting paste through a process of kneading and mixing with water to bring the butter oil to the surface.

Through a collaboration between the Raw Materials Research and Development Council and the National Centre for Genetic Research and Biotechnology, efforts have been underway since 2010 to establish Shea tree plantations to reduce pressure on wild trees and to introduce technologies to mechanize local grinding and kneading methods.

Read the full story: Shea butter, natural endowment waiting to be tapped