In 2023, Nigeria’s ginger farmers faced an unprecedented challenge that shook the very foundation of their livelihoods.
The blight epidemic, a fungal disease, ravaged ginger farms across the nation, leading to a staggering loss of over 12 billion naira. This disaster not only threatened individual farmers but also jeopardised Nigeria’s standing as the world’s second-largest ginger producer.
The outbreak, first detected in August 2023, caused a rapid yellowing and withering of ginger leaves, culminating in the decay of the rhizomes.
Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa States, and the Federal Capital Territory were the hardest hit, with Southern Kaduna’s farmers experiencing the brunt of the devastation. Over 85 per cent of Nigeria’s ginger cultivation takes place in Kaduna alone and according to findings, the blight potentially wiped out more than 70 per cent of the cultivated land.
The Nigerian ginger is known in the International market for its unique taste and is loved here at home also for its spicy culinary and medicinal values.
Moreover the international market’s demand for ginger according to report is currently surging with a market value that’s estimated to reach 6.29 billion USD by 2030, from the 4.16 billion USD in 2023.
No doubt therefore that the Nigerian ginger presents a viable opportunity for the country’s economic growth and job creation.
The federal government, recognising the severity of the situation, inaugurated the National Ginger Blight Epidemic Control Taskforce. Multi-disciplinary team of experts and stakeholders, set-up to investigate and implement adequate preventive, mitigative and corrective measures to address epidemic and re-ignite ginger value chain.
In response to the crisis, the minister of state for agriculture and food security, Sabi Abdullahi, announced a N1.6 billion recovery package through the National Agriculture Development Fund (NADFund) for the affected farmers.
Additionally, a 20-hectare site for clean ginger seed cultivation is pledged to be established to revitalise the industry and reinforce Nigeria’s position as a leading ginger producer.
According to the minister who inaugurated the task force in Abuja, said, that the initiative underscored the federal government’s commitment to revitalise the ginger industry and reinforce Nigeria’s position as a leading ginger producer in line with President Bola Tinubu’s administration agenda for food security.
The minister also pledged the federal government full support to the affected farmers with a promise of seeking solutions to prevent future outbreak, including investment in research and development spearheaded by the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), and the enhancement of agricultural extension services.
He said, “The blight has caused billions of Naira in losses, impacting not only the livelihoods of countless hardworking farmers but also Nigeria’s position as the world’s second-largest ginger producer.
“Our preliminary estimates suggest affected farmers in Southern Kaduna lost over N12 billion, highlighting the significant financial blow, furthermore, considering that over 85 per cent of Nigeria’s ginger cultivation occurs in this region, we can safely assume a substantial loss of cultivated land, potentially exceeding 70 per cent.”
“However, let me assure you, amidst this rough patch, there is hope, the federal government under the committed leadership of our farmer-friendly President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, recognises the critical role the ginger industry plays in our national economy and the profound impact this epidemic has had on our farmers. We are committed to supporting them and actively exploring ways to prevent future outbreaks.
This commitment is not without action. In line with Mr. Presidents directive to explore every avenue to mitigating the impact of the outbreak especially with a view to revitalise the ginger subsector, sustainably stimulate the livelihood of the affected farmers and forestall future occurrences, on the 15th of December, 2023, a roundtable discussion was convened by the Office of the Vice President with key stakeholders: researchers from the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), representatives from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the Kaduna State Government, IITA, the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), private sector ginger aggregators, and our dedicated ginger producers.
This forum served as a platform to collaboratively explore solutions to this crisis. Following this, a two-day strategy workshop in February brought together all ginger stakeholders for a deeper dive into the issue.
“It is with this multi-pronged approach that we launch the Ginger Blight Epidemic Control Taskforce today. This taskforce will serve as the cornerstone of our response going forward, bringing together the expertise of researchers, extension agents, and most importantly, our dedicated farmers. Together, we will overcome this challenge and build a more resilient ginger industry.
“The ginger blight epidemic serves as a stark reminder of the importance of preparedness in safeguarding our agricultural resources. By investing in research, extension services, and farmer support systems, we can build a more sustainable future for our agricultural sector, ensuring Nigeria’s food security and continued success as a leading global ginger producer,” he said.
