The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Ginger Blight Epidemic Control TaskForce to mitigate the impact of ginger blight epidemic in some parts of the country.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Taskforce on Monday in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said the Taskforce would serve as the cornerstone of Government’s response.
He said that the fungal disease had inflicted a significant damage on ginger farms in Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau and the FCT.
The minister was represented by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi.
Kyari said that the blight had caused billions of Naira in losses, impacting not only on the livelihoods of countless hardworking farmers but also Nigeria’s position as the world’s second-largest ginger producer.
” 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, FCT, particularly in Southern Kaduna, a region known for ginger production.
” Our preliminary estimates suggest that 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,” he said.
He said that the ginger industry plays a critical role in Nigeria’s national economy.
The minister said that the epidemic has had a profound impact on Nigerian farmers.
” We are committed to supporting them and actively exploring ways to prevent future outbreaks.
”Together, we will overcome this challenge and build a more resilient ginger industry,” he said.
Kyari said that the inauguration would be followed by a groundbreaking State level ceremony on March 27, in Kaduna.
He said that the Taskforce through the National Agriculture Development Fund (NADFund), would unveil a N1.6billion recovery package for affected farmers.
” This swift action demonstrates our commitment to addressing this issue with urgency.
“The ginger blight epidemic serves as a stark reminder of the importance of preparedness in safeguarding our agricultural resources,” he said.
Responding, the Chairman of the Taskforce, Mr Abdullahi Abubakar, the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture in the ministry, assured that the task force would swing into action to salvage the ginger value chain.
He said that some committees were working behind the scene, adding that it was a national assignment that needed the necessary cooperation of all stakeholders.