Ginger Value Chain: FMARD Hosts Farmers and Processors On Two-day Capacity Building

Federal Government says it is committed to promoting the Agricultural Sector and its potentials through policy development to drive Food and Nutrition Security, Economic Growth and Job Creation.

This is part of Government’s strategy under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FMARD with a view to developing the sector to become business driven by the private sector

The Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, FDA Mrs Karima I. Babangida stated this during a two-day capacity building workshop on “promotion of Ginger Processing Techniques” for north-west Farmers and processors in Kaduna.

According to Mrs Babangida, the workshop was aimed at building Farmers capacity in processing and entrepreneurial management skills to enable them learn the new farming innovation which would improve their knowledge for value addition, income generation and export.

She explained that the ministry would ensure accelerated ginger production and value addition towards self-sufficiency, to meet industrial requirements, as well as boost farmers’ income to generate employment through collaborative efforts of all stakeholders.

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“Nigeria Ginger is one of the best in the world and highly valued in the pharmaceutical and confectionery industry.

The Director in the Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development said Nigeria was among the world largest producers of Ginger that produces almost 523MT annually which accounts for 14 per cent share of the total global production.

“About 90 per cent of our production is exported and over a million-dollar is generated as foreign exchange earnings annually,” She Added.

The North West Regional Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Engr. Ubandoma Ularamu explained that the workshop which seeks to improve their knowledge on processing and packaging of Ginger products for domestic and export will enhance their capacity.

Ularamu said the knowledge and skills acquired on new farming methods and processing, would lead to increase production, utilization, marketing and standard of living for participants

According to him, the importance of Ginger as food and source of foreign exchange cannot be over-emphasized, hence the need for participants to make judicious use of the knowledge by sustaining the effort to achieve its potentials.

The North West Regional Director said at the two-day capacity building workshop that Ginger is produced in all states including FCT with Kaduna accounting for 75 per cent of National Production Annually.

“In 2019, Kaduna state produced about 724, 000MT of Ginger with the varieties locally referred to as ‘Taffin Giwa’ and ‘Yatsun Biri’.

“Ginger is commonly grown in Kachia, Jema’a, Kaura, Jaba, Zangon Kataf, Sanga and Kajuru local government areas of Kaduna, and has maintained its status as the hub of Ginger production in Nigeria,” he explained.

The National President of Ginger Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr Nuhu B. Daudu (rtd) Said Processing and packaging had always been the challenges facing farmers and their products in the market, and therefore posited that with the capacity building workshop, their products will have global acceptability due to the knowledge and skills gain node.

“The workshop was to ensure farmers and processors rub minds and bring to table what will make their products move forward and have global acceptability.

“With the Government creating enabling environment for farmers and processors, it will increase the GDP of the country by way of generating revenue and foreign exchange,” He added.

Branch Manager, linkage Assurance Mr Fidelis Isibor said in line with best practices, farmers are advised to ensure their products are protected against loss in case of disaster.

In a presentation on challenges and prospects of Ginger processing in Nigeria, and practical demonstration of Ginger Processing, the MD. Rema Guaranty Network LTD, Dr Markus Magaji pointed out that knowledge and skills were vital to move the market to greater heights.

The workshop was climax with other presentations to include: best practices in the quality of Ginger marketing, ginger Processing in Nigeria, Bio-technology and crop improvement, and distribution of Farm inputs known as path-Away Organic Growth Enhancer to Farmers.