Seed Disease, Unchecked Export Cause Severe Ginger Shortage

Ginger, once a robust segment of Nigeria’s agricultural economy, has been blighted by a severe shortage due to a deadly seed disease and unregulated export pressure.

Nicknamed “Ginger the Gold” for its high value and global demand, the crop is in sharp decline, a crisis threatening farmers’ livelihoods, domestic supply, and Nigeria’s position in the international spice market.

LEADERSHIP Sunday findings revealed that this scarcity is primarily attributed to a fast-spreading fungal disease that broke out in 2022 and 2023 and decimated the crop.

A sharp drop in supply, skyrocketing production costs, and mounting pressure from international buyers all contributed to unprecedented scarcity.

Thus, ginger prices have skyrocketed, with a bag of the product reportedly rising from under N50,000 to N780,000 in a short period.

LEADERSHIP Sunday observed in some markets in Kaduna, Kano, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that a measure (mudu) of ginger, which used to cost less than N1,000, now sells for N12,500.

The prices of those displayed on tables and in mini plates, which used to cost N100 and N500, have risen to N1,000 and N2,000, respectively.

This disturbing turnaround in the supply and availability of ginger in markets across the country has led many agriculturists to describe the situation as more than just a farming issue, but an economic red flag.

Ginger is a widely used spice with a rich history of medicinal applications. It is known for offering a range of potential health benefits. It helps reduce inflammation, alleviate nausea, and support healthy digestion. Additionally, ginger has been associated with improved heart health, better blood sugar control, and even potential cancer-preventive properties.

 

Seed Shortage Triggers Scarcity

Nigeria is currently facing a critical shortage of ginger, driven by a severe scarcity of ginger seeds and a surge in exports.

This double blow has significantly reduced the availability of the crop within local markets.

LEADERSHIP Sunday reports that, as a result, ginger prices have soared, placing immense financial strain on farmers. Many are now unable to afford the skyrocketing cost of seeds and have been forced to abandon their farms during the 2025 planting season, a troubling setback for both agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.

LEADERSHIP Sunday discovered that the present crisis stems from a devastating fungal blight outbreak in 2023. The outbreak ravaged thousands of hectares of ginger farmlands across key producing states such as Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Plateau, wiping out more than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s total ginger production and triggering widespread disruption in the supply chain.

Although the federal government released a N1 billion recovery fund, ginger farmers and agro-industry stakeholders have expressed concern, stating that the intervention did little to address the scale of the crisis effectively.

Today, the full impact of the epidemic is being felt, as the resulting scarcity continues to drive ginger prices and production costs to unprecedented levels.

Olanrewaju emphasised that seed scarcity has reached critical levels, leaving many ginger farmers unable to cultivate even a small portion of their usual farmlands. He warns that if not urgently addressed, this situation could cripple local production.

“That N1 billion intervention was like pouring a teaspoon into an ocean,” he said. “Farmers were advised to switch to crops like maize and rice, but no sustainable or lasting solution was provided to address the core of the ginger crisis.”

He called for the establishment of a National Ginger Seed Bank and the implementation of a Ginger Seed Preservation Policy,  emphasising that unless Nigeria halts ginger exports for at least three years to build up domestic seed reserves, the crisis will continue unabated.

Meanwhile, exports should be temporarily restricted, he said.

“If we continue to export the limited seeds we have, there will be nothing left to regenerate the sector,” he warned.

In Kaduna, one of Nigeria’s largest ginger-producing regions, a farmer Atiku Sarki echoed these concerns, revealing the harsh reality faced by many growers.

“In 2023, I lost over N10 million to the ginger fungi epidemic. This year, I don’t even have a single seed to plant. The few seeds available are simply too expensive.”

“Some farmers now cultivate ginger close to their homes to prevent night raids. Ginger is scarce, and the price is high,” he said.

Sarki explained that the scarcity is driving theft on farms, with desperate individuals targeting stored rhizomes in remote fields.

While insecurity remains a challenge in some producing states, Sarki emphasised that the primary threats today are the fungal disease and the lack of essential farming inputs.

“It will take at least five to six years for Nigeria’s ginger production to recover and that’s only if meaningful interventions start immediately,” he added.

 

Farmers lost N12bn – Chamber of Commerce DG

The director-general of the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), Usman Garba Saulawa, has described the current state of ginger farming in Kaduna as dire, despite reported interventions by both federal and state governments.

According to reports, ginger farmers in the state have suffered an estimated N12 billion in losses due to the widespread outbreak of ginger blight, a devastating fungal disease that has severely impacted crop yields.

Saulawa said the chamber had received numerous complaints from farmers in Kachia, Kagarko, Zangon Kataf, Jaba, and surrounding local government areas ,  all key ginger-producing zones. Despite claims of government support in the form of seedlings, fertilizers, funding, chemicals, and other inputs, he noted that the situation has not improved.

“While I can’t confirm whether farmers received direct government support due to lack of documentation, our findings as an organised private sector reveal no significant improvement as production remains very low,” Saulawa stated.

 

 

 

Why Produce Is Scarce – Farmers

 

Farmers across Southern Kaduna have echoed the chamber’s concerns.

 

Mallam Suleiman Lengs, a ginger farmer, attributed the current scarcity to the fungal disease that ravaged farms across the region.

 

“Southern Kaduna was hit hard. The disease wiped out a significant portion of the ginger crop, With high production costs and uncertainty due to disease risks, many farmers backed out,  especially those who had taken out loans and suffered major losses.”

 

He added that the few farmers whose crops survived the blight are now enjoying strong international demand, especially from buyers in the Netherlands, the U.S., India, and China, which has further constrained local supply.

 

In Zangon Kataf, Hajara Yunusa said ginger farmers are still reeling from the financial toll of crop failure and input costs.

 

“The reduced supply is hurting both local consumers and Nigeria’s export potential,” she said, noting that some farmers are switching to rice, maize, and sweet potatoes as alternatives.

 

In a phone interview, Mr. Adamu Marshall, another ginger farmer based in Kaduna, confirmed the devastating effect of the fungal outbreak.

 

He said, “Many of us were left with nothing in 2023. We lost so much, and when support didn’t come as promised, some farmers gave up entirely, others quit due to insecurity and threats from kidnappers and bandits.”

 

Marshall revealed that the price of a bag of ginger, which sold for N250,000 to N350,000 in 2024, now sells for between N800,000 and N900,000, with cultivation levels still far below demand.

 

He also stressed the importance of Kano as a major market hub for ginger distribution, urging the federal and state governments to investigate previous support claims and take steps to restore large-scale ginger cultivation.

 

 

 

Consumers Speak

 

In Kano, where ginger is widely consumed, especially as a spice and additive, the soaring prices have sparked concern among residents and small businesses.

 

A mudu (about 2kg) of ginger now sells for N35,000, while the smallest quantities tied in nylons go for N500 in most markets, ten times their former prices.

 

Mrs. Musiret Abdulaziz, who produces Kunu Aya (tiger nut juice), said the price spike is affecting her operations.

 

“Three years ago, I used about N200 worth of ginger in a 20-litre batch of Kunu. Today, I spend at least N2,000 for the same quantity,” she explained.

 

She urged the government to examine the ginger sector more closely, adding that many families have been forced to stop using ginger due to its unaffordability.

 

 

 

How To Address The Menace – Agriculturist

 

Offering solutions to the crisis, an agriculturist Mr. David Dang stressed the need for the development of disease-resistant ginger varieties.

 

He also proposed the establishment of model farms where healthy ginger seeds can be propagated under controlled conditions.

 

He further appealed for the provision of subsidies and financial assistance to struggling farmers to revive production.

 

“Implementing strategies that reduce production costs and make Nigerian ginger more competitive in the global market is key to long-term recovery,” Dang said.

 

 

 

On her part, the national president of the Ginger Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Dr. Florence Edwards, attributed the skyrocketing price of ginger to several key factors, stressing that farmers should not be blamed for the current situation.

 

Dr. Edwards expressed deep disappointment over what she described as government neglect. Despite reports of billions of naira being released to support affected farmers, she said no funds have reached any members of the association.

 

“When farmers suffered massive losses due to the outbreak, I submitted both soft and hard copies of our members’ details from Kaduna and Niger states to the relevant government agencies. I even appeared at public hearings but nothing has been done,” she lamented.

 

Once considered a source of national pride, ginger farming, she said, is now in decline.

 

“I used to be proud to showcase Nigeria’s ginger everywhere I travelled to over 40 countries, all at my personal expense, but today, most farmers have been forced to switch to other crops due to lack of government support.”

 

She added that the association has now turned to seed multiplication through laboratory processes to support its members.

 

“Because of the disease, those who still have ginger are selling at very high prices. You can’t blame them—what used to sell for N4,000 or N5,000 per bag now goes for as much as N390,000 due to scarcity.”

 

Dr. Edwards revealed that the association has members across 32 states and urged the government to take decisive action to rescue the ginger sector from collapse.

 

Also speaking, Hajiya Halima Abdullahi, a small-scale processor who uses ginger in producing Zobo drinks, said the sharp increase in ginger prices is affecting local businesses. “The same quantity of ginger I bought for N5,000 last year now costs over N15,000,” she said. “I used to sell my drink for N1,000, but now I have to charge N1,500 just to stay afloat. We’re not trying to exploit anyone, we just want to survive.”

 

When asked about the cause of the high prices, she said: “Those we buy from say a disease affected the harvest. The supply is low, so they have to raise prices to reduce their losses.”

 

On his part, Alhaji Abubakar Idris, a spice trader, added simply: “We sell based on how we buy. If the prices come down, we’ll reduce ours. But for now, we’re just trying to keep up.”