Ginger cultivation: Youths adopt modern techniques to prevent diseases, improve yield

The Youth Wing of the Asholio Development Association (ADA) of Moro’a Chiefdom in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has taken steps to promote the adoption of modern techniques in the cultivation of ginger.
The National Youth Leader, Mr Laah Bainta, explained that the move was to prevent the outbreak of fungal infection and improve yield for maximum benefits and returns on investments.
Bainta stated this on Saturday in Manchok, during a maiden seminar tagged, “Managing Ginger Diseases and Farming Methodology for the Season”.
The seminar was organised by the association to enlighten and educate farmers, and promote the adoption of modern techniques in ginger cultivation among youths and other farmers in the community.
He said that rather than waiting on government interventions, it was time for farmers to take the needed steps and drive solutions to challenges in agricultural production.
The youth leader recalled that ginger farmers in southern part of Kaduna state have suffered a huge setback during the 2023 farming season, due to the outbreak of fungi pathogens infection.
He explained that the outbreak destroyed over 2,500 hectares of ginger farms, estimated at over N10 billion across the seven local government areas of southern Kaduna.
The youth leader lamented that a similar disease had led to the near extinction of cocoyam in the area, stressing the need for local solutions to the problem.
“This seminar is more of a solution-driven than theoretical approach.
“We have made a lot of mistakes in the past by waiting on the government to organise programmes like this.
“This waiting has led to the near extinction of crops like cocoyam in our communities.
“Government must not do everything for us. One of our visions as leaders of the ADA youth wing, is value orientation amongst the youths, including farmers amongst us,” he said.(NAN)