Ginger is known to be a very successful export crop in Nigeria. The perennial crop grows in a tropical environment and is family to Zingiberaceae. It is native to Southeast Asia, originated in south China, and has since expanded throughout Asia, West Africa, and the Caribbean.
Ginger And The Nigerian Economy
Ginger is among the most valuable trade commodities in the world, with annual global output approaching 1.5 million tons and a variety of forms in which it is traded. Its medicinal, culinary, and aesthetic applications, as well as its subsequent economic significance, have benefited the Nigerian government.
Nigeria is Africa’s largest ginger grower and the world’s fourth-largest ginger producer. Ginger was first grown in Nigeria in 1927 in southern Zaria, the Jemma Federated area, and the nearby Plateau region, but it is now grown all over the country.
The state of Kaduna produces the most of the crop, with states such as Gombe, Bauchi, Benue, and Nassarawa also producing significant amounts.
Ginger roots are used in a variety of culinary applications as a flavoring agent or spice. As a result, ground, powdered, and paste forms of ginger are sold all over the world.
Because of the brightly colored flowers, gardeners grow other types of ginger as attractive plants. Ginger has also been used in traditional medicine for a long time. Organic ginger is quite beneficial because it is completely natural and health-friendly.
The following are some of the several varieties of the plant: Common ginger, Galangal, Tumeric, Peacock ginger, White ginger. Now that we know some varieties of ginger, it’s important to know the varieties that are cultivated in Nigeria. In this article, I’ll explain various types of ginger in Nigeria.
Read also: How to grow ginger in containers and get a huge harvest here.
Types of Ginger In Nigeria
UG 1 – the yellow ginger and UG II – the black ginger are the two types of varieties grown in Nigeria. I’ll explain them below.
1) Yellow ginger (“Taffin Giwa” – Elephant foot)
Its botanical name is Hedychium flavescens and it’s also known as Wild ginger or ginger lily. It originated from the Himalayas and has the following qualities.
I) Non-woody, ginger-scented perennial (2.5 m tall) with giant taro-like rhizomes that are long, shallow-rooted, heavily branched, and grow over each other to form deep beds.
II) Every year, each rhizome segment (4 x 10 cm) generates an aerial stem. Stems reach a height of 2.5 meters and are erect, soft, and unbranched, with a small pinkish ‘collar’ at the base. The leaves are alternating, shiny, and tip upwards (50 x 10 cm).
III) Fruit does not follow flowerheads (15 x 10 cm) with cream-colored flowers overlapping in cone-like clusters (May-Jun).
IV) Dumped vegetation, fill, soil movement, flooding, and polluted machinery all disseminate fragments of rhizomes slowly outwards. It’s common in gardens, along roadsides, and in tips.
2) Black ginger (“Yatsun Biri” – Monkey finger)
Its botanical name is Kaempferia parviflora and Its extract has been shown to increase sexual satisfaction and erectile dysfunction. Because it includes a big number of PDE5 inhibitors, black ginger is known as natural viagra. PDE5 inhibitors operate like viagra without the undesirable side effects.
Black ginger has a darker hue than ordinary ginger. On the outside, the two gingers are identical; however, black ginger has a deep purple interior. Powdered, liquid and encapsulated versions of the black ginger extract are available. As a food additive, the powdered version is available.
Many meals, from curries to overnight oats to sweetbreads, benefit from the addition of black ginger extract powder. You can consume ginger in encapsulated or supplement form if the pungent and spicy taste bothers you.
Read also: What Are The Best Conditions For Ginger Root To Grow?
Conclusion
I hope you find this article helpful. I would like to hear from you. So, let me know if you have any questions about the types of ginger in Nigeria. Also, learn how to grow ginger in Nigeria.
References
- Medium “Statistics: Ginger Production in Nigeria.” Retrieved from here
- 24 Mantra “Different Types Of Ginger And Their Uses” retrieved from here
