An outbreak of ginger blight costs farmers N12 billion, and the crisis jeopardizes Nigeria’s position as the market leader. Farmers impacted by the nationwide outbreak of ginger blight have received a N1.6 billion compensation package from the federal government through the National Agriculture Development Fund (NADFund).
The action follows investigations that revealed a fungal illness that devastated ginger fields in Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) caused farmers to lose an estimated N12 billion.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Ginger Blight Epidemic Control Taskforce in Abuja yesterday, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari said that ginger farmers in Southern Kaduna alone, where more than 85% of cultivation takes place, are estimated to have lost N12 billion.
He bemoaned that the blight had cost billions of naira in losses, affecting not just the means of subsistence for innumerable diligent farmers but also Nigeria’s standing as the second-largest producer of ginger globally.
The minister, who was accompanied by Minister of State Sabi Abdullah I, noted that Nigerian ginger offers a tremendous economic opportunity, with a market value predicted to increase from $4.16 billion in 2023 to $6.29 billion by 2030.
He disclosed that the pandemic has destroyed more than 70% of Southern Kaduna’s arable land; therefore, action is required to allow farmers to plant other crops while they wait for a long-term solution to the pandemic to be discovered.
He stated that a multidisciplinary task force consisting of four committees was formed in January in response to the ginger blight problem, and that the Technical and Research Committee will be tasked with comprehending the illness and creating preventative methods to lessen future recurrences.
He emphasized that the Capacity and Productivity Committee would equip farmers for a stronger future by providing training, high-quality seeds, and best practices to combat the crisis, while the Emergency and Recovery Committee would concentrate on supporting farmers affected by the unsuccessful season through needs assessments and transparent relief distribution.
He said that the Marketing and Industry Committee will strive to eliminate the gap that exists between Nigerian ginger and the domestic and international markets by encouraging cooperation with export destinations, guaranteeing regulatory compliance, and preparing stakeholders for success.
Speaking about the Task Force Secretariat serving as the main hub for communication, planning, resource distribution, and progress assessment, Abdullah stated: “Today, we are launching the Ginger Blight Epidemic Control Taskforce with this multifaceted strategy. This task group, which includes the knowledge of experts, extension professionals, and most crucially, our committed farmers, will be the cornerstone of our response moving ahead. Together, we will overcome this problem and create a more robust ginger sector.”
According to Task Force Committee Chairman Abdullah Abubakar, the group has been working behind the scenes to stop the epidemic’s spread, which has hampered ginger output.
