Fg confirms ginger blight epidemic, reports N12 billion loss for farmers

In a concerning development, the Federal Government has officially confirmed the outbreak of a ginger blight epidemic in four states across Nigeria.

The revelation came during the inauguration of the National Ginger Blight Epidemic Control Taskforce held in Abuja on Monday.

According to reports, the fungal disease has wreaked havoc on ginger farms in Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory, resulting in staggering losses exceeding N12 billion for ginger farmers.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, highlighted the severity of the situation, emphasising the significant impact on farmers’ livelihoods and Nigeria’s position as the world’s second-largest ginger producer.

“Our preliminary estimates suggest that affected farmers in southern Kaduna alone have suffered losses exceeding N12 billion,” Abdullahi revealed. “Considering that over 85 per cent of Nigeria’s ginger cultivation occurs in this region, we anticipate a substantial loss of cultivated land, potentially exceeding 70 per cent of the total land.”

Despite the grim outlook, Abdullahi announced a ray of hope for affected farmers, stating that the Federal Government, through the National Agricultural Development Fund, would launch a N1.6 billion recovery package specifically targeting ginger-producing areas.

He underscored the importance of preparedness in safeguarding agricultural resources, citing the ginger blight epidemic as a stark reminder. Abdullahi stressed the need for investment in research, extension services, and farmer support systems to ensure a more sustainable future for Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

As the government takes steps to address the ginger blight crisis, affected farmers and stakeholders eagerly await the implementation of recovery efforts aimed at mitigating the devastating impact of the epidemic on Nigeria’s ginger industry.