Abubakar Yakubu
23 June 2008
The economic value of a plant called Cactus Opuntia (Ficus indica) was over the weekend in Abuja disclosed by Professor IK Aduba, who said it can fight the scourge of malaria as well as combat desertification, alleviate poverty, hunger and enhance better livelihood for man and livestock.
The professor also called on frontline buffer states of Nigeria to combat desertification and global warming through the plant.
"From the numerous pads being produced by this plant, the sap from the pads was used in 1911 by an American, Luther Burbank in Central Africa to smother the mosquito larvae found in exposed stagnant water bodies and environment," he stated
He said the effect lasted for 12 months, adding that the research report can be expanded and developed for commercial uses in Nigeria to fight the scourge of malaria.
"This bio- technology based on Cactus Opuntia is effective for the remedial impacts of the degraded landscapes of the frontline states, so as to revive agricultural and other socio- economic activities to create development, alleviate poverty and enhance better living conditions for the people," he added.
He said the plant has other potentialities apart from combating desertification, adding that the pads are of superior biomass for livestock feed, medicaments and biogas for cooking when dried.
"The fruits are delicious and nutritiously used for the production of confectioneries, solid food and cosmetics that can be exported to neighbouring countries," he explained.
Aduba also revealed that the plant's pads and stem after five years can be combined with the fruits to produce Bioethanol to blend fossil fuels in pursuit of global warming.
"We need to develop these to create employment opportunities as well as generate revenue for the masses of the desert states, and extend to other neighbouring countries like Niger, Chad and Cameroun," he stated.
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