Group gives succour to ginger farmers who lost over N10b to strange disease

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Following the broad spectrum of fungal diseases, causing the Ginger pandemic in the Southern part of Kaduna State, the National Ginger Association of Nigeria (NGAN) in collaboration with the Non-Farmer Initiative has empowered 18 farmers with the sum of fifty thousand Naira each.
The National President of the Ginger Association, Squadron Leader, NB Daudu (RTD.), disclosed addressing Journalists in Kachia yesterday
According to him, the 2023 Ginger season in southern Kaduna suffered serious setbacks due to the pandemic, including a loss of over 10 billion Naira to the state’s economy.
He therefore called on both the Federal and Kaduna state governments to provide some antidotes to curb the menace of the disease.
While speaking, he further said: “Government should provide palliatives, to reduce the pandemic currently being experienced by the Ginger farmers in Southern Kaduna.
On the output of the product, the National President explained that due to the lack of Ginger processing plants, Nigerian Ginger is unable to attract competitive prices in the world market.
“ It is therefore logical to set up a Ginger processing plant to meet the international quality standard. The quality of our processed Ginger and its packaging have made our dear nation perform far below expectation in the Ginger export around the world”, Daudu said.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman of Kachia Local Government, Hon. Aaron Bako, and Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Queen Victor Saidu explained that Ginger is mainly the major source of the people’s livelihood in the LGA.
“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,” they said.
On his part, the representative of the Non-Farmer Initiative, Captain Maikano Abdullahi Sara (rtd), disclosed that the empowerment program aimed at cushioning the effect of the pandemic.