Ginger Farmers Lose Over N10bn In Southern Kaduna To Strange Disease

By Akeem Oduyoye

The National President of the Ginger Farmers Association of Nigeria(GFAN), Squadron Leader, N B. Daudu (rtd), has disclosed that a strange disease suspected to be fungal infection has affected ginger production in Southern Kaduna, leaving farmers with a loss of over N10 billion.

Daudumade this disclosure told newsmen in Kachia, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, adding that the association has  called on the Federal and the State governments to provide some antidotes that will curb the menace of the disease.

 “Government should provide palliatives so as to reduce the effect of the pandemic being experienced by the ginger farmers in Southern Kaduna,” he said.

According to him,  due to lack of a ginger processing plant, Nigerian ginger is unable to attract competitive prices in the world market.

The national president added that it is logical to set up a ginger processing plant in order to meet the international quality standard.

The Chairman of Kachia Local Government Area, Aaron Bako and the Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Queen Victor Saidu, respectively, stated that ginger was the major source of livelihood in the area.

They said the impoverished ginger farmers were equally contributing to the GDP of Nigeria and called on governments at all levels to come to their aid.

Representative of the Non Farmer Initiative, Captain Maikano Abdullahi Sara (rtd), noted that the empowerment programme was aimed at cushioning the effect of the pandemic.