Ginger farmers in the Southern Kaduna region of Nigeria are facing a devastating threat from a rampant fungal disease.
The disease, according to them, has wreaked havoc on crops in areas such as Kagarko, Jaba, and Kachia, causing substantial losses and putting livelihoods at stake.
They are calling upon the state government and key agricultural stakeholders to urgently intervene and curb the further spread of the disease, which threatens to cripple the local ginger industry.
Speaking further, Mr William Dogo, a ginger farmer in Kagarko Local Government Area, told newsmen that “the disease has caused significant losses to his crops.”
He also expressed frustration with the lack of support from the government and other stakeholders.
Similarly, Mrs Helen Tanko, another ginger farmer in Jaba Local Government Area, said that the disease is a major threat to the local ginger industry. She also pointed out that the disease is likely caused by climate change.
The National President of the Gingers Farmers Association, Nuhu Bagani Daudu, said that the association has taken steps to address the issue, including submitting samples of the affected crops to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Trades and Investment, Research Institute, and Head of Department, Crop disease/epidemiology in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
However, Daudu also said that this is not the first time the fungal disease has affected the crop, and that it has spread extensively this year, causing huge damage to ginger production in the three affected local government areas.