Mercy Corps, in partnership with LAPO Microfinance Bank and TAZO, has supported over 9,383 ginger farmers across four local government areas in Southern Kaduna, strengthening food security and boosting Nigeria’s position in the global ginger market.
Through the Empowering Resilient Ginger Farmers (ERGF) Project, farmers in Jaba, Jema’a, Kachia, and Sanga LGAs were trained in sustainable agronomic practices, financial literacy, and gender-sensitive farming, while also receiving farm inputs, financing, and access to credit facilities.
The Program Manager, Ismail Musa Rilwan, said Kaduna accounts for 90% of Nigeria’s ginger output, making it the hub of the country’s production. He noted that the price of ginger has surged from ₦60,000 to as high as ₦800,000 per bag, describing it as “almost as valuable as gold.”
The initiative aims to raise ginger yields from the current 5–12 tons per hectare to as much as 38 tons per hectare, while tackling challenges such as seed system insecurity and the 2023 ginger disease outbreak. To cushion farmers’ losses, the project disbursed ₦48 million to affected households and introduced clean ginger seeds in collaboration with research institutes.
“Our goal is to ensure at least 51% of beneficiaries are women, equipping them with knowledge, resilience, and access to finance,” Rilwan said.
Also speaking, LAPO Agribusiness Manager, John Aifuwa Ogbebor, highlighted the bank’s role in improving access to loans, inputs, and logistics for smallholder farmers. He stressed the need for stronger collaboration with institutions like the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to overcome bottlenecks in farmer identification and financial inclusion.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that the initiative will transform ginger farming in Southern Kaduna from a survival activity into a thriving agribusiness that drives rural prosperity and export growth.
