The Federal Government has inaugurated Ginger Blight Epidemic taskforce comprises of experts, researchers and stakeholders to investigate and implement adequate preventive, mitigating and correcting measures to address the epidemic.
This is even as the Government through the National Agriculture Development Fund (NADFund) is launching a N1.6 billion recovery package for affected farmers.
Inaugurating the taskforce on Monday at the Ministry headquarters in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the taskforce is to explore every avenue to mitigate the impact of the outbreak especially with a view to revitalize the ginger subsector, sustainably stimulate the livelihood of the affected farmers and forestall future occurrences.
Kyari who was represented by the Minister of State, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said the devastating fungal disease has inflicted significant damage upon our ginger farms in Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau and FCT, particularly in Southern Kaduna – a region synonymous with Nigerian ginger production.
He said the Nigerian ginger is not just any ginger; “its taste and pungency are truly unrivaled. This unique quality has long been cherished here at home, but now, the world has finally taken notice.
“The international market’s demand for ginger is surging driven by its increasing popularity for its health and culinary benefits. With a market value that’s expected to reach 6.29 billion USD by 2030, up from 4.16 billion USD in 2023, Nigerian ginger presents a phenomenal opportunity for our nation’s economic growth.”
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.
According to him, the preliminary estimates suggest affected farmers in Southern Kaduna lost over N12 billion, highlighting the significant financial blow.
He said the taskforce will serve as the cornerstone of the government’s response going forward. They are to bring together the expertise of researchers, extension agents, and most importantly, farmers.
Appreciating the government for the opportunity to server, the chairman of the taskforce and the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture in the Ministry, Engr Abubakar Abdullahi, said the task force will not fail the government even as he requested for the permission to coopt more experts in the committee for effective outreach.
