Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is one of the popular plants that has benefited various countries across the world and Nigeria is no exception. Nigeria, after China and India, is the world’s third-largest exporter of ginger, with 500 to 1,000 tonnes exported each year.
Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger, Bauchi, and Gombe are the six states of the federation that produce ginger. Kaduna is Nigeria’s top producer, accounting for over half of the country’s total harvest. Gombe and Bauchi are the next states, followed by Benue, Nasarawa, and Niger.
Uses of Ginger
The product’s outstanding quality, which is regarded among the best, is one of the reasons for its rising demand in the international market. Ginger has medicinal, culinary, and fragrant benefits. Since ancient times, the root plant has been utilized in cooking and as a herbal cure.
In today’s diets, ginger is one of the most extensively utilized food seasonings. It belongs to the same plant family as turmeric and cardamom, all of which have numerous health advantages.
Ginger can be eaten in a variety of forms, including powder, refrigerated or frozen, or fresh ginger that has been peeled before use. The plant is utilized in a variety of recipes as a spice and a main ingredient.
Some food and beverage businesses use it as a by-product. In most Asian cultures, it is used to make ginger wine as well as a food seasoning.
Cakes, cookies, bread, crackers, ginger ale, and beer all employ powdered ginger to add flavor to their recipes. Its root is utilized as a raw ingredient in the production of health foods, beverages, and baked goods.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nigerian ginger output is estimated to be 31 million metric tons, with demand estimated to be 65 million MT, resulting in a 34 million MT supply-demand gap.
However, ginger production in Nigeria has encountered various problems over the years, and in this article, I’ll explain them.
Related: Learn About The Types of Ginger In Nigeria
Problems Associated With Ginger Production In Nigeria
The following are some of the various problems associated with ginger production in Nigeria.
1) Inadequate technology
Despite being the fifth largest producer of the crop, the utilization of innovation and technology in ginger production is relatively minimal, according to WorldAtlas data. For land preparation, most ginger producers do not use tractors or other machines.
This limits the capacity to grow ginger output because farmers are unable to expand their farming areas due to the high amount of human labor required; but, with tractors, they can cultivate on a greater scale.
2) Low-quality seeds
Farmers also face challenges in obtaining high-quality seeds. It’s difficult to find good ginger seeds, and the majority of what’s available is of poor quality. The need for the country’s ginger is rising year after year, but production has remained stagnant to satisfy the growing demand.
3) Poor marketing
Farmers are losing money by selling their produce at a loss due to poor marketing prices. The government should establish a board to ensure that they receive fair pricing.
Read also: How to grow ginger in containers and get a huge harvest here.
Conclusion
I hope this article gives you useful information about problems associated with ginger production in Nigeria. I would like to hear from you. So, let me know if you have any questions.Also, learn how to grow ginger in Nigeria.
