Farmers seek help as Kaduna loses N10b to ginger fungus

Kaduna State government may have lost not less than N10 billion to ginger fungal infection, as the farmers cry out for immediate intervention.

As a result of ginger disease in Southern Kaduna, National Ginger Association of Nigeria (NGAN), in collaboration with Non-Farmer Initiative, has empowered 18 farmers with N50,000 each to cushion the effect of the epidemic.

NGAN said the 2023 ginger season in Southern Kaduna suffered serious setback due to the disease, just as it decried over N10 billion loss that should have accrued to the state’s economy.

The National President of NGAN, N. B. Daudu, while addressing journalists in Kachia, called on the federal and state governments to provide some antidotes to the disease.

On the production output of the commodity, Daudu explained that due to lack of ginger processing plant, Nigeria’s ginger was unable to compete in the global market.

“It is, therefore, logical to set up a ginger processing plant to meet international standard. The quality of our processed ginger and its packaging made our dear nation to perform far below expectation in ginger export around the world,” Daudu said.

In separate remarks, the Chairman of Kachia Local Council, Aaron Bako, and Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Queen Saidu explained that ginger is the major source of the people’s livelihood in the council.

“These impoverished ginger farmers have equally contributed to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is on this note that we call on the governments to come to the aid of our people, who have been badly affected by this strange disease,” they stressed.