‘Diseases, Inflation Threaten Nigeria’s Ginger Export’

Professor Ibrahim Sodangi, a Professor of Agronomy and Provost College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Kaduna State University (KASU) has said that ginger exportation is being threatened by inflation and fungi diseases in Nigeria.

Prof. Sodangi who spoke  at a one-day workshop on Empowerment Resilient Ginger Farmers in Kaduna on Tuesday organised by Mercy Corps explained that the method of processing ginger in the country  is a problem, saying that processing ginger has not been standardised with result that microbiological, organoleptic and  chemical properties of products often falls short of importers specification.

He also maintained that in 2023, Nigeria grossed N10 billion in export but the position is threatened by fungi as Nigeria may not be able to export only 30% of ginger, he said.

“To control diseases, organic  manure is good, cheap and available; however, inorganic manure  is equally good but expensive.”

Sodangi further said “inflation is actually affecting us, the government desires to intervene but the willpower is not there. Government can intervene  but the people given the intervention will not get it across to the actual beneficiaries and that is also a huge problem”.

He further lamented that only 15 per cent of farmers consult Government Agriculture Extension Workers on the use of the right pesticide.

“In order to reduce losses in ginger farming, farmers should use disease free seeds, embark on crop rotation between 4 to 5 years, planting on raised seedless to avoid stagnation, removing plants debris from storage, disinfecting walls and floors, application of metalaxyl, ridomil, pro plant, use of disease resistant varieties and quarantine measures”.

He called on the government to assist group formation and strengthen  the actors in the ginger value chain and eradication of barriers for women participation in the ginger value chain.