- Sunday, May 5, 2024
- Contact
The National Agricultural
Development Fund (NADF) Executive Secretary, Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, said the
Federal Government is providing support valued at N1.6billion input package to
ginger farmers in three states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),
Abuja.
The input support is under the
Ginger Recovery Advancement and Transformation for Economic Empowerment
(GRATE).
He disclosed this at the launch
of Ginger Blight Epidemic Control Taskforce support initiative supported by the
office of the Vice President held in Kaduna yesterday.
According to him, 15,000 ginger
farmers from Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory were
affected by the recent ginger blight epidemic in the country.
According to him, this happens
when the country has started witnessing considerable growth in ginger export.
Abu said the National Bureau for
Statistics (NBS) reports that revenue from ginger export increased by 17per
cent to hit N10 billion in Q2 of 2023 compared to N4.6billion over the same
period in 2022.
According to him, it is in
response to the epidemic crisis that this task force was set up. "At the
first instance, the Federal Government through the NADF is providing support
valued at N1.6bn starting out with 1ha input packs appropriately named the GRATE
package, which is the GRATE.
"The recent ginger blight
epidemic, while affecting an estimated 15,000 farmers across Kaduna, Plateau,
Nasarawa states, and the FCT, came at a time our country had started to see
considerable growth in ginger exports," he said.
He however explained that the
support package to be given to the farmers contains 1pc 20kg bag of high-yield
seed variety, 4pcs 50kg bags of NPK fertilizer, 2pcs 50kg bags of urea, 2pcs
1kg bag of fungicide. Others are 1pc 1ltr of insecticide, 2pcs 1 litre of
herbicide, 1pc 2 litre of post-emergence herbicide.
He said the team is eager to see
ginger being grated in rural communities again in the immediate term.
In her remarks, Technical
Assistant on Agriculture office of the Vice President Marian Moon said the
Presidency is taking the issue of agriculture and ginger farming very seriously
as part of the government's renewed agenda program.
According to her, many countries,
among them Mexico, are busy trying to grow Nigerian Ginger because it's one of
the best in the world. She also urged farmers to increase ginger production in
the country.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani
represented by his Deputy Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe commended the Federal
Government for its support to the affected farmers in the state. He described the state ginger as one of the
best in the world urging them to be more dedicated to their farming business.
Courtesy: The Nation
Leave Comments