Local textile manufacturers seek establishment of indigo leaf farms across Nigeria

Some ‘Adire’ textile makers have called on the Federal Government to establish Indigo leaf plantations in the six Geo-political zones of the country.
‘Adire’, a tie and dye textile is the indigo-dyed cloth made in the South West Nigeria by Yoruba women, using a variety of resist-dyeing techniques.
The manufacturers said that this would ensure easy accessibility of the leaf for mass production of the fabric by manufacturers.
They said that the indigo leaf, referred to locally as “ELU,’’ is available only in Oshogbo, Osun State at the Artist village, where hectares of land was used for its plantation.
Gabriel Dada, the Chief Executive Officer of Dada Gallery, said that the indigo leaf is the most important ingredient in the production of ‘Adire’ fabrics, Tie and Dye, which ought to be accessed easily.
He said that the neglect of the Adire industry has had negative effect on the industry.
Dada, however, appealed to government to set aside hectares of land across the six-geopolitical zone for the cultivation of the indigo leaf.
“I am so lucky because I do my business in Oshogbo where we have the plantation so we get the leaf, dry it and send it to other parts of the country.
“We want government to get involved in the development of the textile industry, most especially ensuring that we have this indigo plantation in each zones,” he said.