Association Decries Rejection of Nigeria’s Ginger in International Market
The National Ginger Association of Nigeria (NGAN) has decried rejection of the product in the international market, despite the country’s ginger being one of the best in the world.
Specifically, Mr Gagarin Madaki, disclosed this at his inauguration ceremony as new president of the association in Kaduna. Madaki said the situation was partly due to poor post-harvest handling of the commodity by Nigerian farmers.
Also, the association president observed that ginger should be sold per kilogram and not per bag to generate more income for farmers and the country. “The farmer is cheated; the buyer is cheated. The sharp practice has to stop,” he added.
Madaki pointed out the need to adopt a new strategy to ensure Nigeria’s comparative advantage in ginger production receives a boost by way of producing and exporting quality produce, leveraging on the international best practices.
Furthermore, the NGAN president stressed the issues of poor post-harvesting handling, use of inorganic chemicals, among others as limiting the revenue generating potential of ginger in the international market, adding that it was also imperative to improve farmers’ productivity.
According to him, ginger is the fourth largest priced commodity in Nigeria which makes it a good foreign exchange earner. “It is used in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical drugs and during COVID-19, ginger value skyrocketed by about 500 percent because people know the impact it has on cold, cough and all that,” Madaki noted.
The president, therefore, encouraged farmers to produce based on international best practices for improved benefits.
Meanwhile, other officers elected included: Isaac Kure as Deputy President, Emmanuel Nehemiah as National General Secretary, Mrs. Elizabeth Bukar as National Vice President-Northeast, Tekaa Luga as National Vice President, (North-Central), Amaechi Ikerinyimba as National Vice President, (North-East), Richard Isokari as National Vice President, (South-south).
Agro Nigeria
