The National Ginger Association of Nigeria has commended the Federal Government for releasing ₦1.9 billion in palliatives to cushion the devastating impact of the ginger blight disease that ravaged farmlands in 2023.
The association’s National President, Nuhu Dauda, gave the commendation at a stakeholders’ meeting and inauguration of new members in Kaduna on Sunday. He said the intervention, facilitated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, brought some relief to thousands of farmers who had suffered massive losses.
“The minister acted with dispatch. That is why we successfully had some support from the Federal Government, where they spent around ₦1.9 billion to support ginger farmers by way of providing palliatives,” Dauda said.
However, he noted that the assistance was inadequate compared to the scale of the damage, as about 80 percent of ginger farmers were affected. He called for a two-pronged strategy — full compensation for affected farmers and sustainable disease control to prevent recurrence.
“We cannot allow this to continue. Up till today, the government is still trying to find a solution to see if the loss is compensated. But we are not only talking about the compensation; let the farmers continue to farm ginger and let the blight disease come to a final halt,” he added.
As part of efforts to revive the sector, the association announced a partnership with Dimitra International, a global agribusiness firm, to introduce modern farming solutions and prevent future outbreaks. The collaboration is expected to benefit 6,000 ginger farmers with improved practices and government-backed support.
Also speaking, Alhaji Muttaka Isah, President of the Dawano Market Development Association and a board member of the Ginger Association, lamented the hardship farmers have endured over the past five years. He noted that Nigeria, once the world’s second-largest producer of ginger, had lost ground internationally due to recurring outbreaks.
“We want to reclaim that position. The government must assist with empowerment to revive this important industry,” he said.
Stakeholders at the meeting agreed that beyond short-term palliatives, lasting solutions and empowerment are crucial to restore farmers’ livelihoods and reposition Nigeria as a global leader in ginger production.
