To encourage food security and agriculture, the federal government has set up a National Ginger Epidemic Control Taskforce to put an end to the effects of pests and diseases in the production of ginger, enhance production as well as achieve food and nutrition security.
This was made known by Umar Rashida Sanusi, the Principal Information Officer of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sufficiency on Wednesday stating that ginger farmers in Nasarawa, Plateau, Kaduna and Abuja had been greatly affected by the impact of pest and disease epidemic.
Speaking during the inauguration of the National Ginger Epidemic Control Taskforce held at the Ministry’s Conference Room, Abuja recently, the Minister Sen. Abubakar Kyari, CON, who was represented by the Minister of State, Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi reaffirmed the commitment of Federal Government to revitalize the ginger sub-sector and reinforce Nigeria’s position as a leading ginger producer in line with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration agenda in the Agriculture Sector.
He stated that the ministry would support the affected farmers by seeking solutions to prevent future outbreak through investment in research and development spearheaded by the National Root Crops Research Institute and improve the agricultural extension services.
The Minister further revealed that there is a provision of N1.6 Billion Naira recovery package through the National Agriculture Development Fund (NADFund) and establishment of 20 hectares site for clean ginger seed cultivation.
He appealed to Nigerian farmers to avoid importation of seeds without going through the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), to forestall importation of crop diseases into the country.
The Minister urged the committee to investigate, apply adequate preventive and corrective measures to address the epidemic as well as reinvigorate ginger value chain. He added that there is a rising demand for Nigeria’s ginger in the International market and this would lead to economic growth for the country.
Responding on behalf of the Taskforce, the Chairman of the Taskforce and Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Engr Abubakar Abdullahi, pledged that the committee would work assiduously to achieve its mandate and reposition the ginger value chain.
