By Jimoh Babatunde

THE Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Monday, inaugurated the National Ginger Blight Epidemic Control Task Force to contain outbreak of ginger blight in Kaduna, Nasarawa and Plateau States including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

The inauguration was made the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, which the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Engr Abdullahi Garba is the Chairman of the task force.

According to the Kyari who was represented by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, the Tinubu-led administration is swift to tackle the outbreak of the ginger blight in order to safeguard the Nigerian ginger industry with a market value that is expected to reach $6.29 billion by 2030, up from $4.16 billion in 2023.

He said: “We are all here for a critical reason, to address a grave challenge that has struck a vital artery of our nation’s agricultural sector: the recent ginger blight epidemic. This devastating fungal disease has inflicted significant damage upon our ginger farms in Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau and FCT, particularly in Southern Kaduna – a region synonymous with Nigerian ginger production.

“The Nigerian ginger is not just any ginger; its taste and pungency are truly unrivaled. This unique quality has long been cherished here at home, but now, the world has finally taken notice. The international market’s demand for ginger is surging driven by its increasing popularity for its health and culinary benefits. With a market value that’s expected to reach 6.29 billion USD by 2030, up from 4.16 billion USD in 2023, Nigerian ginger presents a phenomenal opportunity for our nation’s economic growth.

“Specifically, the blight has caused billions of Naira in losses, impacting not only the livelihoods of countless hardworking farmers but also Nigeria’s position as the world’s second-largest ginger producer.

“Our preliminary estimates suggest affected farmers in Southern Kaduna lost over N12 billion, highlighting the significant financial blow. Furthermore, considering that over 85 per cent of Nigeria’s ginger cultivation occurs in this region, we can safely assume a substantial loss of cultivated land, potentially exceeding 70 per cent.

“However, let me assure you, amidst this rough patch, there is hope. The Federal Government under the committed leadership of our Farmer-Friendly President, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR recognizes the critical role the ginger industry plays in our national economy and the profound impact this epidemic has had on our farmers. We are committed to supporting them and actively exploring ways to prevent future outbreaks.

“This commitment is not without action. In line with Mr. Presidents directive to explore every avenue to mitigating the impact of the outbreak especially with a view to revitalize the ginger subsector, sustainably stimulate the livelihood of the affected farmers and forestall future occurrences, on the 15th of December, 2023, a roundtable discussion was convened by the Office of the Vice President with key stakeholders: researchers from the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), representatives from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the Kaduna State Government, IITA, the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), private sector ginger aggregators, and our dedicated ginger producers. This forum served as a platform to collaboratively explore solutions to this crisis.

“Following this, a two-day strategy workshop in February brought together all ginger stakeholders for a deeper dive into the issue.

“In response to the ginger blight crisis, a multifaceted task force comprising of four committees was established in January this year.

“The Technical and Research Committee will be dedicated to understanding the disease and developing control measures to mitigate future re-occurrences.

“The Emergency and Recovery Committee will be focused on supporting farmers impacted by the failed season through needs assessments and transparent relief distribution.

“The Capacity and Productivity Committee will be empowering farmers for a stronger future by providing training, quality seeds, and best practices to combat “Ginger Blight.” While also promoting sustainable practices and early disease detection.

“Marketing & Industry Committee will be working to bridge the gap between Nigerian ginger and the local and global markets. This committee fosters collaboration with export destinations, ensuring regulatory compliance, and educating stakeholders for success.

“Coordinating these efforts is the Task Force Secretariat, acting as the central hub for planning, resource allocation, communication, and progress evaluation.

“It is with this multi-pronged approach that we launch the National Ginger Blight Epidemic Control Task force today. This task force will serve as the cornerstone of our response going forward, bringing together the expertise of researchers, extension agents, and most importantly, our dedicated farmers. Together, we will overcome this challenge and build a more resilient ginger industry.

Meanwhile, the Minister disclosed of N1.6B recovery package for affected ginger farmers, “This official launch today will be followed by a groundbreaking State level ceremony on Wednesday 27th March, 2024 in Kaduna where the Taskforce through the National Agriculture Development Fund (NADFund) is launching a N1.6 billion recovery package for affected farmers. This swift action demonstrates our commitment to addressing this issue with urgency.”

However, he said the ginger blight epidemic serves as a stark reminder of the importance of preparedness in safeguarding our agricultural resources, which calls for investment in research, extension services, and farmer support systems.

“We can build a more sustainable future for our agricultural sector, ensuring Nigeria’s food security and continued success as a leading global ginger producer”, he added.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Ginger Epidemic Control Task Force, Engr Abdullahi assured that the task force will swing into action to salvage the ginger value chain, and disclosed that some committees were working behind the scene, and said it is a national assignment that also needs the necessary cooperation, and he asked the Minister to give the task force the power to co-opt members into the task force, which the Minister graciously granted his request.