Ginger farmers in southern Kaduna have expressed concern over the re-emergence of the fungal disease that devastated their farms in 2023, leading to losses estimated at ₦12 billion.
Southern Kaduna accounts for over 85 percent of Nigeria’s ginger production, but the resurgence of the blight has once again thrown farmers into uncertainty.
Speaking with journalists on Friday, some affected farmers described the development as both shocking and disheartening.
Specifically, Israel Isaac, a 44-year-old farmer from Zangon Kataf Local Government Area, said his crops may have been infested due to his inability to afford the recommended chemical.
“As you can see, the leaves of my ginger have all turned yellowish, which tells you it is under attack by this disease we all thought was gone.
“My failure to apply the chemical is because it is super expensive and, like many others, I cannot afford it,” he lamented.
Another farmer, 51-year-old Nehemiah Jacob from Kafanchan, warned that the blight could force many farmers to abandon ginger cultivation.
“A lot of us are starting to consider cultivating alternative crops because of this disease that has refused to go away.
“By the time people begin to switch to other crops, it’s going to affect our position as a leading global ginger producer,” he said, calling for government subsidies to make chemicals affordable.
The National President of the Organic Ginger Farmers Association, Maijama Kure, argued that the available remedy only suppresses the disease temporarily.
“I know of people who have made up to 10 applications this year and yet their crops are yellowish.
“The remedy only suppresses and delays the disease without eliminating it entirely. We need more research to understand the root cause and find a permanent solution,” he said.
Experts also weighed in on the issue. Professor Ibrahim Sodangi of Kaduna State University explained that the disease mostly resurfaces where chemicals are not applied.
“I tried out an experiment on my own farm and found that the portion where I applied the chemical was not affected at all. But the section without treatment was completely lost to blight,” he said.
Sodangi added that chemicals remain expensive and scarce, echoing farmers’ calls for government intervention through subsidies.
He further advised farmers to adopt agronomic best practices to reduce risks and safeguard their farms.
