The Senate raised concerns on Tuesday about the loss of N10 billion by ginger farmers in Kaduna South, Kaduna State due to an outbreak of a pathogenic fungal infection. The upper house has therefore called for the immediate intervention of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, and the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) to control the spread of the disease.
The motion was moved by Sunday Katung (PDP Kaduna South) to urgently address the outbreak of the deadly pathogenic fungal infection that has destroyed more than 2,500 hectares of farmland estimated at N10 billion in seven local government areas of the southern part of Kaduna State. This situation threatens Nigeria’s position in the world ranking of ginger production.
Mr. Katung stated that Kaduna State ranks first in ginger production in Nigeria, contributing to Nigeria being one of the largest ginger producers in the world. From 2014-2018, Nigeria produced an average of more than 300,000 tons, with a global market share of around 11 percent, behind only India.
The devastating and unprecedented ginger pandemic is estimated to affect the performance of Nigeria’s non-oil exports and is already affecting the lives of many people within the affected communities of southern Kaduna who rely on ginger as their source of livelihood.