Wemolat:



What is Stevia?

Stevia is a perennial herb found within the Asteraceae family, it is related to daisies, marigolds, ragweed and sunflowers. The prized species, Stevia rebaudiana, grows in Brazil and Paraguay, where its leaves have been used for hundreds of years to sweeten food and drink.
Stevia matures in 4 months and is harvested every 3 months. It thereafter produces for 4-5 years. Stevia is a safe, natural, zero-calorie and carbohydrate free sweetener. It has none of the negative side effects associated with sugar such as diabetes obesity etc. it is currently used by thousands of companies such as Coca Cola, Pepsi amongst others


Stevia is well-suited for sweetening creamy desserts, drinks, fruit, salad dressings and yogurt and tea.
Stevia is sold as Green stevia or White stevia which is white powder or tablets sweeteners for domestic consumption. Stevia is also used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Some Health Benefits of Stevia
Besides being a zero-calorie sweetener with appeal to diabetics and dieters, stevia also:


• Acts as a natural antioxidant— due to the presence of caffeic acid, flavonoids, kaempferol, quercetin, tannins and triterpenes — enabling your body to fight free radicals that can damage your cells and contribute to cancer, heart disease and other health concerns

• Inhibits the growth of cavity-promoting bacteria and is also believed to prevent dental cavities and gingivitis


• Promotes weight loss, which means you can enjoy "sweets" without the calorie burden and negative effects of sugar

• Reduces high blood pressure thereby protecting your heart health, due to the presence of glycosides in stevia known to relax your blood
vessels
• Regulates your blood sugar level, as the glucose-containing particles of stevia is absorbed in your colon and not your bloodstream, like
sucrose (table sugar)

Can it be it be grown in Nigeria?

YES!:

Stevia requires rainfall of about 150 mm per annum is essential needs to produce a higher amount of stevia leaves. However, Nigeria has 381mm to above 4,064mm average rainfall across its various vegetation zones this will ensure better harvests than in Europe and US
It thrives well within temperatures of 28 oC to 33 oC

HOW TO GROW STEVIA

It is grown faster from cuttings from mature plants than trying to sprout seeds, especially given the poor germination rate of Stevia seeds.
Pruning is important to maximize leaf production to encourage its branching. Prune always at regular intervals also harvest the leaves from them, or root them in moist potting soil to cultivate additional stevia plants for your farm expansion because A farmer needs 8,000 to 10,000 seedlings per acre

Stevia is currently has no pests. However, termite-infested lands should be treated to prevent the root being eaten during dry spells of weather
Stevia plant grows best in well-drained, rich, red and sandy loam soils. It prefers acidic to neutral soils. Soil pH range should be about 6.0 to 7.5 for its best growth and yield

What are the economic benefits?
If supported by Nigerian government at the three levels, Stevia value chains can create 1 million jobs for Nigerians in 3years These include Small Farmers, Plantation workers, Nursery businesses, Local Stevia Research scientists, Cottage Extraction Businesses, SMES and Outgrowers, sellers and resellers and exporters.

Also nationwide farming of will attract foreign Investors like Cargill, Tate & Lyle etc.to establish Stevia refineries in Nigeria
• Stevia yields 2.5 to 3.628 tons per acre per annum with yearly revenue of N5,297,960.40 (i.e $14,514.96) per acre using international price of $4 per kilogram

• Dozens of Online markets e.g Alibaba, Pure Circle etc , Coca Cola and Pepsi agents buy Stevia from around the world Global demand is estimated at N13 trillion/year


LOCAL MARKET FOR STEVIA

Nigeria is the largest importer of Sugar in Sub-saharan Africa with import level of 1.56 million metric tonnes in 2016. The major users of sugar being carbonated soft drinks industry where Coke pepsi and Sprite belong. And the breweries Nigerian Breweries and Guinness to mention a few.
Nigeria produces just 7% that is 70,000 MT of its annual sugar needs of 1 million metric tons.
With our population put at 180million people and growing at 2.5% per annum, Nigerian market is huge enough to produce hundreds of Stevia Farmer Millionaires and processors without considering export.

Also cream of Nigerian elites avoid refined sugar and settle for Stevia. All Stevia powder on shelves of Nigerian superstores re currently imported. These are the gaps to fill profitably by discerning and forward looking farmers, investors, processors and exporters.

INTERNATIONAL MARKET
Thousands of manufacturers, confectioneries and bottlers abroad are looking for Stevia. Some Stevia products from around the World include Coca cola life, Pepsi Cola True, Canderel Stevia and many more in the united States, Europe and Asia

Currently, China is the biggest refiner and producer of white Stevia powder.

NOTE: The investor is advised to start with a minimum of 100 Or 150 seedlings and multiply to cover farm of 1 Acre this is because the higher the number of the seedlings the faster it is to arrive at the minimum of 10,000 seedlings for an acre. The population can be doubled every four weeks through “cutting and rooting technique”. Also note each of your plants lives and produces for you for 5 years continuously.
Your personal cost containment strategies will bring cost down by 50% and enhance profit of the first year’s activities despite purchases



GETTING STARTED!
The following are the recommendation for starting and time taken to fill up your land to required capacity for optimum leaves harvest
Time taken to populate the land by cuttings and rooting; 100 or 200 seedlings to start up a plot and 200 and above to multiply seedlings for 1 acre

Time taken to populate the land by cuttings and rooting

CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS IN STEVIA FARMING
1. Nearness to source of water
2. Generous use of poultry of farm yard manure in nursery and on the farm
3. Continuous multiplication of your seedlings by cutting and rooting your cuttings in moist soils for planting
4. Regular pruning of Stevia farm to encourage leaf growth and branching out new leaves
5. Air drying/ Sun drying your Stevia leaves for sale
6. Having numerous buyers to choose from
7. Have a personal Stevia website to allow buyers from around the world to find you


For detailed feasibility report for the local manufacture of Stevia Leaf powder, Stevia Tea and Stevia Tincture, Please contact me