The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has revealed its intention to allocate N1.6 billion worth of inputs to ginger farmers across three states, as a measure to alleviate the impact of the ongoing blight epidemic affecting ginger farms nationwide.
Unveiled during the launch of the Ginger Blight Epidemic Control Task Force support program in Kaduna, the initiative aims to bolster the ginger industry’s growth.
Mohammed Ibrahim, NADF’s secretary, disclosed that approximately 15,000 ginger farmers in Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, and Abuja had suffered from the recent epidemic, resulting in a substantial decrease in production and export.
Ibrahim elaborated on the support package, named the Ginger Recovery Advancement and Transformation for Economic Empowerment (GRATE) package, which encompasses various inputs valued at N1.6 billion.
“This support encompasses hectare input packs, referred to as the GRATE package, comprising high-yielding seed varieties, fertilizers, and fungicides,” he explained.
Underlining the significance of ginger farming, Marian Moon, a technical assistant in agriculture, highlighted the government’s renewed focus on agriculture and ginger farming as part of its agenda. She emphasized that Nigerian ginger enjoys high demand globally, with countries like Mexico expressing interest in its cultivation due to its quality.
The initiative is a response to the challenges confronted by ginger farmers due to the blight epidemic, with the objective of rejuvenating the sector and enhancing production. With ginger exports already demonstrating promising revenue figures, the support from NADF is anticipated to assist farmers in surmounting the current crisis and maximizing the potential of the ginger industry.
