High-Quality Nigerian Ginger Paves the Way for Steady Worldwide Supply

The novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is seriously affecting the agricultural market, with many products in short supply as China is halting its exports. Ginger is amongst those products that are mainly produced and exported by China, and COVID-19 is expected to harm ginger availability in the world market. This does not have to happen, however, as there is a surprisingly large supply of ginger available in Nigeria, the world’s 3rd-largest ginger producer. Timesellers Limited, a Nigerian exporter of ginger, explains why Nigerian ginger is well capable of providing the world with a steady ginger supply.

From Subsistence Farming to Increasing Production

Ginger from Nigeria is of high quality, with an aroma that is often described as sweeter than Indian and Chinese ginger. It is mainly produced in the states of Kaduna and Oyo, where the soil is high in nutrients, and there are a lot of large-scale and small-scale farmers. Nigerian ginger is available year-round and many farmers have large storages of ginger stocked away ready for when the demand rises.

Although Nigeria is the 3rd-largest ginger producer, it is not yet well-known for ginger. Timesellers Limited explains that this is partly due to high levels of food waste up until recent years. Nigeria’s ginger production is mostly driven by local subsistence farmers, who cultivate very small plots. Aggregation of the plots is the plug that puts Nigeria on the map. Timesellers Limited is changing the narrative by employing technology to disrupt the norm and solve the problems that are keeping farmers small, by empowering farmers and cultivating en masse. Storage facilities have also improved drastically over the last 5 years, as well as farm management

Close-Up Farming the Key to High-Quality Production

Timesellers Limited works with several small farms, led by experienced farmers, that each focus on a small production amount and area. This way, the farmers can ensure that the produce is properly cared for and the quality is high. Close-up farming, as the company dubs it, allows for reduced food waste and production costs and increased quality and quantity of the product. In order to further increase productivity, the company works with a subsidiary, called Groupfarma, which allows investors to invest in farms, which are then managed by the company. The investments made to Groupfarma are used to empower farmers, create employment opportunities, as well as guaranteeing returns for investors.

Nigeria An Attractive New Alternative for Ginger Imports Amidst Coronavirus Impact

With COVID-19 hitting the largest supplier of ginger, China, Nigeria is an attractive alternative to many importers. Its central location allows for quick export to Europe and the Middle East, as well as to Asia and the Americas. With a stable supply and increasing demand from these regions, Timesellers Limited believes that now is a key period to increase Nigerian ginger exports.

Ginger is among the most in-demand spices around the world due to its medical properties of lowering blood sugar, cholesterol levels and alleviating the risk of heart disease. Exports from top-worldwide-producer China had been rising over the last couple of years, reaching USD 471K in terms of exported value in 2018, due to a steady increase in global demand.

However, due to halts in exports of Chinese ginger this season, prices have already begun to increase in countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Vietnam. With Nigerian ginger production having risen rapidly over the last few years due to improved production situation, Nigeria is a promising new candidate for these markets to consider as alternative import destinations. As Nigerian suppliers, including Timesellers Limited, are expecting a steady all-year-round supply of high quality, Nigeria is also an optimal candidate for international buyers to consider a steady long-term partnership.