Nigeria: How ginger blight and seeds’ scarcity pushed Kaduna farmers to other crops

The southern part of Kaduna State has long been the largest ginger production belt in Nigeria, producing over 70 per cent of the country’s 726,000 metric tons of the crop. This year, however, the landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation as farmers, overwhelmed by skyrocketing costs and the lingering effects of a devastating fungal disease, move towards a broader array of crops. Last year, a severe fungal disease swept through Southern Kaduna, decimating ginger yields and leaving farmers with significant losses. The aftermath of this calamity has been compounded by soaring prices for essential farming inputs. Fertilisers, herbicides, and ginger seeds have become expensive, making ginger farming a risky endeavour for many farmers in the area. This has forced many farmers to diversify to other crops. However, new ginger markets like Zonkwa are now thriving, as farmers from less affected areas around Atyap and Ikulu chiefdoms continue to produce the crop. Ibrahim Hamza, a ...