Ginger farmers in southern Kaduna have expressed deep concern over the resurgence of a fungal disease that devastated their farms in 2023, causing losses estimated at over ₦12 billion.
Southern Kaduna, which produces more than 85 per cent of Nigeria’s ginger, is once again under threat, with farmers warning that the blight could cripple the country’s position as a leading global producer.
Speaking with journalists on Friday, affected farmers described the situation as shocking and disheartening.
Israel Isaac, a 44-year-old Zangon Kataf Local Government Area farmer, said his ginger leaves had turned yellowish, a clear sign of infestation. He blamed his inability to afford the costly chemicals recommended for treatment.
“My failure to apply the chemical is because it is super expensive and, like many others, I cannot afford it,” he lamented.
Similarly, 51-year-old Nehemiah Jacob from Kafanchan warned that many farmers might abandon ginger cultivation altogether.
“A lot of us are starting to consider cultivating alternative crops. By the time people begin to switch, it’s going to affect our position as a leading global ginger producer,” he cautioned, urging the government to subsidise chemicals.
The National President of the Organic Ginger Farmers Association, Maijama Kure, argued that existing remedies are only temporary.
“Some farmers have applied chemicals up to ten times this year, yet their crops remain yellowish. The treatment only suppresses the disease without eliminating it. We need more research to find a permanent solution,” he said.
Experts also weighed in. Professor Ibrahim Sodangi of Kaduna State University explained that the disease thrives where chemicals are not applied.
“On my own farm, the treated section was safe, but the untreated part was completely destroyed,” Sodangi said.
However, he stressed that chemicals remain scarce and unaffordable for most farmers, reinforcing calls for government intervention. He also advised farmers to adopt improved agronomic practices to protect their fields.
Source: AgroNigeria
