Agriculture
Kaduna Farmers Harvest 724,000 Metric Tons Of Ginger
Farmers in Kaduna State have harvested a total of 723,971.56 metric tons of Ginger in the 2017 cropping season, a check by The Tide source reveals.
Our source reports that Ginger is being produced in Kachia, Jemaa, Zangon Kataf, Zonkwa, Kagarako, Jaba, Kaura, Kajuru, Sanga, and Lere Local Government Areas of the state.
Ginger is used largely for industrial and private consumption across the globe.
Mr Reuben Sonkob, Deputy Director, Monitoring and Evaluation at the State Agricultural Development Agency (KADA) said in Kaduna that the figure was realised in spite of the challenges farmers faced during the season.
“Our records for 2017 showed that Ginger farmers harvested 723,971.56 tons of the crop in 2017 in spite of various challenges the farmers faced in the course of cultivating the crop,” Sonkob said.
The state Chairman, Ginger Farmers Association, Mr Nuhu Najira, said apart from the 9,560 members of the association, other farmers were also engaged in the production of the commodity.
He however said that lack of credit facility and poor financing from government and the private sector had limited the scope of cultivation of ginger in the state.
According to him, commercial banks are not willing to lend to farmers at single digit interest rate while the Federal Government Anchor Borrowers program had not approved the more than 5,000 applications it received from ginger farmers during the season.
“Commercial banks are asking for 28 per cent interest rate for farmers to access credit facility from them.
“We had negotiated to reach up to 12 per cent interest but the banks declined and insisted on 28 per cent,” the chairman said.
He also identified lack of modern inputs and facilities to accelerate farming such as quality seeds, tractors, fertilizer and chemicals from the state government as other impediments limiting ginger cultivation in the state.
Najira added: “The last time we received these inputs was in 2014 and since then, we go through all the processes individually and as an association, but to no avail.
“Again, after production we face another set of challenges of poor pricing and so much interference by middlemen.
“This has led to the fall in the prices of the commodity both at local and the international market.
“In 2017, the prices of the commodity dropped to as low as N8, 000 from N17, 000 per bag in the local market and similar drop was recorded in the international markets.
“This happened at a time when farmers spent as much as between N900, 000 and N1.2 million as cost of production per hectare.”
The chairman also noted that the farmers require modern storage facilities for their produce to maintain quality so as to attract good price at the international market.
He explained that local storage of the commodity had resulted in losses to farmers due to exposure to different kinds of contaminations which reduced the quality and standard required for export.
However, Mr Francis Danfulle, Deputy Director, Agric Extension Services at KADA, explained that ginger farmers did not access funding support through the Anchor Borrower Programme due to the refusal of farmers that benefited from the facility to pay back loans granted them in 2016.
According to him, more than 30, 000 farmers applied for Anchor Borrowers credit facility when it was introduced in 2016 and 11, 000 of them cultivating other crops were unable to pay back the loan granted them.
He explained that it was a revolving loan, which would only be granted to those in need when previous beneficiaries paid up.
On access to fertiliser, Danfulle said the state government only facilitated the supply of the commodity by private companies who sale at government approved price of N5, 500 per bag.
He said that the same policy applied to other farming inputs.
The official stressed that in spite of the hitches, Kaduna state remains the highest producer of ginger in the country.
The deputy director said with the support of extension workers, farmers now harvest 20 tonnes per hectare, but said the ginger farmers still need to adhere strictly to international rules of drying and storage in order to reap maximum benefit.
“Most farmers prefer to manage their crops by themselves, instead of following the guidelines from the extension service workers,” he noted.
Ginger is being grown in the southern part of Kaduna state for domestic use for ages while commercial production began around 1927.
Available records showed that by 1966 Nigeria had become the second largest world exporter of ginger after China.
However, exports fell due to the Nigerian civil war, unattractive prices and poor support from government, and since then Nigeria’s production was overtaken by India and China.
NAN gathered that out of the figure being cultivated in the country, 10 per cent is reported to be locally consumed as fresh ginger while 90 per cent is dried primarily for export.
Nigeria is the third largest exporter of ginger in the world after China and India, and the Nigerian ginger is well known and on high demand across the globe.
A large percentage of the commodity is exported to China, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, France, United States of America, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Chad, Sudan and Ghana, among others.
This the farmers attributed to inadequate pest control facilities, lack of in-depth managerial skills, crisis, Climate control and other factors.
These were the observations of the farmers during the training of 6000 Cassava farmers and facility tour both at Fashola Agribusiness hub and Iseyin.
The training was coordinated by the African Agricultural Technology (AATF) Foundation and National Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Abia state, funded by Germany based Foundation.
The project coordinator of AATF, Samuel Ogunleye said the training has benefited the farmers immensely.
According to him, ‘the training is designed to benefit 6,000 Cocoa farmers in the 33 local government areas of the state.
‘The programme was incubated in 2023 but inaugurated in 2024. The programme has taken place in Ido and Ibarapa areas with the training of over 1,200 farmers.
‘Today similar programme is taking place here in Iseyin with over 2,000 farmers in attendance.
Farmers are being trained on how to increase their output as well gets it to the market through modern technology.
‘In Iseyin, there is a modern Cassava processor machine aimed at easing the processes.
‘The local farmers have access to the processor at a subsidize rate. Also, the foundation is assisting them at getting their products to the market”.
In his own presentation, the team leader, National Root Crops Research Institute, Dr. Adeyemi Olojede said the training was designed to address the decline in the
production of Cassava nationwide.
He said: ‘The training is designed for the off season in order to allow active participation of farmers.
‘Some of the challenges confronting the farmers are tabled while the solutions are proffered.
On the issue of funding, the University don blamed successive administrations in the Country for paying lip service to the sector.
According to him, the Research Institutes in the Country have not been able to access the Budget in the past five years.
The researchers are using their personal contacts to access funds from local and international organization to carry out research.
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos State Chapter, has lauded the Federal Government’s approval of 57 crop varieties to strengthen agricultural productivity in the country.
The Lagos State AFAN Chairman, Mr Sakin Agbayewa, disclosed this in an interview with the Newsmen, Wednesday in Lagos.
Reports said that in March 2026, the Federal Government approved 57 new improved crop varieties to boost food security, improve nutrition, and strengthen agricultural productivity.
The crops, selected for early maturity, higher yields, and resistance to pests and diseases, include 14 different types of staples, with notable advancements in rice, maize, yam, soybean, and plantain.
Agbayewa noted the approval of the crop varieties would help improve the yields of farmers in the state.
“We are excited to hear about the 57 new varieties of crops recently approved.
“What we desire currently in crop farming is not just about planting, it is about increased yield.
“A farmer can have a plot of land and have a high yield and another can have big plots of land and have a low yield.
“So, if when are talking about food security, it starts from the varieties you are planting and it starts from the seedlings”, Agbayewa said.
He described the introduction of the crops as a new development for crop cultivation.
“This newly approved 57 crop varieties should however be popularised among local farmers because not everyone is aware of this latest development.
“There are lots of issues currently affecting the cultivation of crops and the development of improved crop varieties will help the farmer’s productivity.
“Issues such as climate change effects, inconsistent rainfall patterns and weather clash among others are affecting farmers’ yield,” he said.
Agbayewa said there should be massive advocacy of the approved crop varieties across the board for farmers, adding, “The government is now waking up to their responsibility. So, we are”
The event, with the theme “Aligning Science, Enterprise, and Policy to Scale Insect-based Feed Solutions,” brought together policymakers, researchers, regulators, private investors, and BSFL farming entrepreneurs to map out strategies for integrating insect protein into Nigeria’s agricultural system.
According to him, black soldier fly larvae can feed on organic waste including market and kitchen refuse and develop into high-protein feed within 10 to 14 days.
“It contains about 40 to 45 per cent protein, making it a viable alternative to some protein source feed ingredients in poultry, fish, and pig feed ration if produced sustainably” he said.
Amole noted growing interest from feed manufacturers, stressing that supply, not demand remains the major constraint
“The question now is who can produce at commercial scale,” he added.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s comparative advantage, citing its tropical climate and abundant organic waste, which support year-round production without the need for expensive temperature control systems.
He however emphasised the need for standardisation to ensure consistency in nutrient quality and safety across producers.
Also speaking, a Senior Scaling and Innovation Expert from the institutes ‘headquarters in Nairobi, Dr. Ijudai Jasada, identified fragmentation within the BSFL value chain as a major barrier to scale.
“We need a coordinated system that connects all actors and reduces inefficiencies,” he said.
Stakeholders at the Roundtable reached a consensus that ILRI should take the lead in establishing and championing a national platform on BSFL.
Jasada said plans are underway to establish a national coordination platform to improve collaboration, attract investment, and support long-term growth of the sector.
He said the goal is to integrate insect-based feed into Nigeria’s mainstream feed industry by 2030, while creating employment opportunities for women and youth.
On capacity development, Prof. Cordelia Ifeyinwa Ebenebe of Nnamdi Azikiwe University acknowledged ongoing training efforts by development partners and institutions but warned that Nigeria’s regulatory framework for insect-based feed remains underdeveloped.
She noted that standards are still evolving and are expected to align with benchmarks being developed by the African Organisation for Standardisation.
Similarly, Prof. Olugbenga Adeniran Ogunwole stressed the importance of safety assurance and regulatory clarity, warning that policy gaps could hinder large-scale adoption.
He identified key challenges, including variability in nutrient composition, digestibility concerns linked to chitin content, and relatively high production costs.
A BSFL producer, Mr. Kolawole Ogunleye, said large-scale production remains difficult due to limited access to equipment, financing, and infrastructure, adding, “The process is labour-intensive, and most of the equipment is still imported,” he said.
From the private sector, Mr. John Amole, Country Representative of New Generation Nutrition (NGN), described insect protein as a growing but still underutilised solution in Nigeria.
He noted that although insect meal has been approved as a feed ingredient, it has yet to gain widespread market acceptance.
“There is interest, but the ecosystem is still developing, and there are no guaranteed off-takers,” he said.
Sharing international experience, Ms Talash Huijbers of InsectiPro, Kenya, highlighted the success of circular economy models that convert organic waste into protein and fertiliser.
The roundtable concluded with key recommendations, including the establishment of a clear legal framework for insect-based feed, financial incentives for startups, standardised substrates, integration into national waste management systems, and increased funding for research and extension services.
-
Editorial4 days agoEnough Of Xenophobic Attacks On Nigerians
-
Education4 days agoUNIPort Senate Grants Two-Year Amnesty to U2010–U2018 Students
-
Nation4 days agoRSU, Otonti Nduka Foundation Holds Centenary Conference, Unveil Book on Values in Nigeria
-
Sports4 days agoOparaodu Urges Rivers United To Win Katsina United
-
Oil & Energy4 days agoRivers PETROAN Elects 12-Member Executive
-
Politics4 days ago
APC Group Protests Ex–Presidential Aspirant’s Disqualification From Rivers Senatorial Race
-
Sports4 days ago” Nigeria’s best domestic players are not in NPFL”
-
Politics4 days ago
Reps Speaker Secures APC Return Ticket For Fifth Term