By Felicia Imohimi
The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) have launched the Ginger Value Chain Recovery and Sustainability Programme (GVCRSP) aimed at restoring the country’s ginger industry.
Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of NADF at the unveiling in Abia State on Saturday identified the programme as a major intervention aimed at restoring Nigeria’s ginger industry following the devastating ginger blight epidemic that crippled production across key growing areas.
Ibrahim him further said that the gesture was to strengthen agricultural research institutes.
Ibrahim represented by Mr Ernest Ihedigbo, General Manager, Technical Services of NADF described the GVCRSP as an integral part of the NADF ginger roadmap, developed after the Ginger blight epidemic.
He emphasised that the ginger value chain recovery and sustainability programme was specifically designed to rebuild the ginger industry after the 2023 ginger blight epidemic.
He described that the epidemic severely disrupted production, affected thousands of farmers, reduced export earnings and exposed structural weaknesses within the value chain.
Ibrahim explained that NADF under the programme will provide six metric tonnes of ginger rhizomes alongside infrastructure for germplasm conservation, disease-free seed multiplication, tissue culture propagation, adaptive field preservation and sustainable seed system development.
“The gathering of government officials and other stakeholders in the industry
to chart a sustainable path for the recovery and transformation of the country’s ginger value chain.
“GVCRSP initiative is a landmark demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to repositioning agriculture as a driver of economic diversification, food security, industrial development and export competitiveness under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Unveiling of the programme and the formalisation of the partnership with NRCRI reaffirmed NADF’s mandate as the Federal Government’s catalytic financing institution dedicated to translate agricultural policies into sustainable investments that strengthen research, innovation and national food sovereignty.
“Agricultural transformation cannot be achieved without strong research institutions, modern technologies and strategic investments that connect scientific discoveries with production and markets,”he said.
Ibrahim who identified the organisation as currently implementing two flagship interventions to support the sector said the first initiative focus on strengthening selected agricultural research institutes as centres of excellence.
According to him, the gesture is through investments in modern laboratories, biotechnology facilities, renewable energy systems, irrigation infrastructure, digital platforms and innovation hubs.
He says “NRCRI had been selected as the South-East beneficiary in the first phase of the programme and will receive support for energy and digital infrastructure as well as laboratory equipment installation and maintenance.
“The intervention is expected to strengthen research infrastructure, improve the capacity of scientists and researchers, promote demand-driven research, deepen linkages between research institutions and farmers.
“It will facilitate the commercialisation of agricultural technologies and foster partnerships with leading international research organisations.
“GVCRSP is the second intervention and is designed to rebuild the ginger industry after the 2023 ginger blight epidemic, which severely disrupted production, affected thousands of farmers, reduced export earnings and exposed structural weaknesses within the value chain.
Ihedigbo in his remark said that NADF had previously played a key role in the Federal Government’s Ginger Blight Epidemic Control Taskforce through the implementation of the Ginger Recovery Advancement and Transformation for Economic Empowerment (GRATE) Programme.
He explained that about 6,000 farmers in Kaduna, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory received improved seeds, production inputs for alternative crops and support for integrated pest management strategies under the intervention.
According to him, the gesture was aimed at containing the disease outbreak and restoring livelihoods.
He explained that outside social impact interventions, the ginger value chain recovery and sustainability programme is designed to drive recovery, resilience and long-term transformation of the ginger sub-sector.
Prof. Chiedozie Egesi,, Executive Director of NRCRI identified the programme as timely intervention capable of addressing critical challenges confronting Nigeria’s ginger industry.
Represented by Dr Adeyemi Olojede, Director in the institute urged stakeholders to develop practical solutions that would restore production and strengthen resilience within the value chain irrespective of the uncertainties surrounding the causes of the disease outbreak.
Dr Cliff Agbeze, Abia State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources described the partnership between NADF and NRCRI as evidence of the power of strategic collaboration in addressing challenges within the country’s agricultural value chains.
Represented by Mrs Ijeoma Adamma Agoha, Permanent Secretary in the ministry selecting NRCRI as a beneficiary of the intervention was in recognition of the institute’s research capacity and the state’s growing role as a centre for agricultural innovation in the South-East.
“The ginger blight epidemic had disrupted the livelihoods of thousands of farmers, reduced the availability of quality planting materials and exposed vulnerabilities within the sector.
“The unveiling goes beyond recovery. It is about rebuilding stronger systems, restoring farmers’ confidence, and ensuring long-term sustainability through science, technology and innovation,”he said.
Also Mr Morrison Udo representative of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), described ginger as one of Nigeria’s priority non-oil export commodities
.
According to him, the initiative will help tackle challenges related to funding, infrastructure, disease management and policy support.
Prof. Ikechukwu Chima, representative of the National President of the National Ginger Association of Nigeria (NGAN) described the programme as a significant national initiative with far-reaching economic implications.
