Bitter Leaf and Pumpkin Leaf, two of a kind; both are vegetables with similar characteristics: high nutrient content, medicinal, in high demand in Europe and America, and mostly consumed as vegetal food and soup-condiments by Africans-in-diaspora. Scientifically called Vernonia Amygdalina, Bitter Leaf is known in local Nigerian languages as Onugbu (Igbo), Shiwaka (Hausa) & Ewuro (Yoruba). Quite exceptionally, this little shrub can grow anywhere, unlike other leaves that require specific temperatures and locations in order to maintain growth.
It is uniquely enchanting to sit at table over an African cuisine that contains bitter leaf as an ingredient. Even though it is called bitter, the taste is actually fragrant. The bitter-sweet taste of bitter leaf is to say the least delicious. Ask our brothers and sisters who have left the shores of our country; they hardly see the vegetable in the markets. At times they go to distant city-markets, far flung from their places of domicile, in search of it. When they see it at all, they are ready to pay a premium price to get a huge chunk of it. That’s mainly why bitter leaf consignments placed on the shelves for sale in international city markets are cleared no sooner than they arrive as imports from Nigeria and other exporting countries. Apart from its nutritious benefits, bitter leaf has versatile medicinal utility; hence, it carries several health benefits for many people around the globe who consume it regularly.
Recent studies conducted at the University of Texas revealed that including bitter leaf in routine diet could reduce risk factors for such health conditions as breast cancer and type-II diabetes. A similar study revealed that using bitter leaf extract supplement reduces bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and increases good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Furthermore, using bitter leaf is helpful against the pollutants emitted from burning cigarettes. Consumption of bitter leaf soup or other concoction can help protect smokers against health hazards associated with the habit of smoking. Bitter leaf also supplies to the body, linolenic acid (unique form of fatty fats that the natural body is unable to make). People who consume large quantities of linolenic acid are at the lowest risk of having cardiovascular disease when compared to those who did not. There are also antioxidants found in bitter leaf that exhibit excellent disease-fighting properties. There are other new discoveries that largely account for why the demand for bitter leaf is on steady rise in the international market.
Bitter Leaf can be exported fresh or dry. The dry leaf is more suitable for distant markets like the US and Far East while the fresh vegetable is suitable for the nearer UK market
To export dry, manual or industrial drying could be employed depending on the quantity intended for export. To export fresh proper washing is necessary to free the leaves from particles and ensure that they attain the highest hygienic standards.
Dried Bitter Leaves is quoted at $9.48 for 2oz in both London and New York commodity markets. The 2 oz. of dried Bitter Leaf is an equivalent of 56.7 grams. In the local market, this quantity (56.7 gram) of dried Bitter Leaf is priced for only N50. Importantly, the exporter must ensure that the product would have been technically handled to meet hygienic and quality standards required in the international market.
Assuming the exporter decides to procure and export about 2 tonnes (2,000 kg) of Bitter Leaf to targeted overseas countries in a season, he would require a total capital of about N6, 763, 668.40. A variable sum of N1, 763, 668.40 would be used to buy the produce from the local market on wholesale basis, and an additional N5m would be used to take care of all the preoperational, administrative, packaging, transportation, marketing and contingency costs.
At the international benchmark price of $9.48 for 56.7 grams, the exporter would realize a gross revenue amounting to $334, 391.52 from the resale of the 2 tonnes, (equivalent of N10, 031,745 at the prevailing exchange rate of $1=NGN360). At the end of all transactions, the exporter would smile to his bank with at least N3m net profit, which indicates a rare return-on-investment approximating to 50%.
The bitter leaf export activity is worthwhile. If you’re interested in the business and you want more information on how to enter the trade, why not talk to us today.
I am search of foreign market for vernonia amygdalin.
I am interested
Am interested in the business but in small scale like 500kg
I am intrested to start the business .how do we go about it ?
Am interested in the bitter leaf export business.
I have plenty of bitter leaf for supply,how do I go about it for export
Am interested and need more details/ professional guidance to start.
My interest in processing of dried Bitter leave for export.
I need more details/professional guidance.
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I need more information on how to proceed.
Am interested please what are the requirements for me to start exporting bitter leaf
More information needed on the bitter leaf export business,