… Nigeria’s 4th position as the world’s ginger producer threatened
No fewer than seven local government councils of Kaduna State affected by an outbreak of fungi pathogens infection that wiped out N10 billion worth of ginger, covering 2,500 hectares of farm land in seven local government councils of Kaduna State, threatening Nigeria’s fourth position as the world’s ginger producer.
An assessment tour of ginger farms in some affected local government councils over the weekend by the Executive Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, (NEPC), Dr. Ezra Yakusak and Commissioner of Agriculture, Kaduna State, Murtala Dabbo, confirmed that entire ginger farms had been destroyed by a mystery crop infection that left ginger farmers helpless with lamentation.
Conducting an NEPC team around affected local government areas, which include: Jaba LGA, Jere LGS and Kargako LGA amongst others, Dabbo described the ginger pandemic as devastating and unprecedented.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen, NEPC CEO, Dr. Ezra Yakusak described it as a mystery pandemic, but assured affected farmers of the Council’s support.
According to him, “Kaduna State is the highest in terms of ginger production in the country, with over 80 percent. Kaduna State ginger is the best. If 80 percent of ginger production is affected in Nigeria, it means the world ginger market supply chain will be affected”.
On any likely intervention being considered by NEPC to ameliorate ginger farmers’ plight, Ezra listed supply of improved seedlings, enlightenment and advocacy as some of interim interventions.
The Sole Administrator of Jaba local government council, Mrs. Nita Byack George, told newsmen that the ginger pandemic inflicted maximum economic damage in her local government area.
