Ginger Farmers Lose N10bn To Strange Disease

The National Ginger Association of Nigeria, on Thursday, lamented that the 2023 ginger season in southern Kaduna suffered a setback following an attack by a ‘strange disease’ which led to the loss of over N10 billion to the state’s economy.

The National President of the Association, Squadron Leader Nuhu Dauda (retd.), who disclosed this in Kachia, Kaduna State, urged both the federal and state governments to put in necessary measures to curb the menace of the disease from causing more damage to ginger farming in the state.

This was as the association, in collaboration with a group, the Non-Farmers Initiative, empowered eighteen ginger farmers with N50,000 each in the Kachia  Area of the state.

Daudu, in an interview with journalists, further urged the governments to provide palliatives so as to reduce the pandemic currently ravaging ginger farms in the southern part of the state.

The NGAN boss, also disclosed that due to the lack of a Ginger Processing Plant, Nigeria’s ginger was unable to attract competitive prices in the world market.

“It is therefore logical to set up a Ginger Processing Plant in order to meet the international quality standard. The quality of our processed ginger and its packaging have made our dear nation to be performing far below expectation in ginger export around the world,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Kachia LGA, Hon. Aaron Bako, said ginger remained the major source of livelihood for the people of Kachia.

“These impoverished ginger farmers have equally contributed to the GDP of Nigeria. So, it is on this note that we are calling on the governments to come to the aid of our people who have been badly affected by this strange disease,” he stated.

Meanwhile, on his part, the representative of the Non-Farmers Initiative, Captain Maikano Sara (retd), disclosed that the N50,000 donated to ginger farmers was targeted at empowering them to cushion the effect of the pandemic ravaging ginger farms in the area.

A beneficiary, Rita Asabe, while speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, expressed happiness over the gesture, saying, “We are appreciative of the gesture. We are also calling on the government to please come to our aid.”