By; ISAAC ODEH, Kaduna
Ginger which is known for both food and source of foreign exchange is said to be cultivated globally, and highly valued in the pharmaceutical and confectionary industry, hence the need for farmers of the commodity to employ cluster farming to promote Large -scale production for both domestic and export.
This formed part of discussion during a one-day business workshop on ginger value chain organized by National Ginger Association of Nigeria in collaboration with Macedonia Ginger Farmers in Kaduna State-Nigeria.
The workshop with the theme positioning the Nigerian Ginger in the international market was attended by eminent key players in the ginger value chain, as well as members of the association cut across the federation.
The National President, National Ginger Association of Nigeria, Mr. Nuhu Daudu said during the business workshop that the event was aimed at exposing farmers to all the standards required for them to have access and acceptance in the international market in line with best agricultural practices, GAP.
Mr. Nuhu Daudu explained that the importance of ginger as both food and source of foreign exchange is unprecedented, hence the need toemploy cluster farming with a view to enhancing productivity, utilization, processing and marketing among others.
‘’We have always say production before marketing, but now reverse is the case, we are going to ensure where is the market, who needs themarket, how he wants the market, how he wants the produce to be made for him, and all the standards required”,
‘’The major problem of the farmers has been funding, because we cannot do anything without funds, and then secondly, training- the farmers have to know what the international market wants, what are the standards require to have their ginger accepted in the global market’’,
Guest speaker at the event and technical adviser, Gezewa Commodity Market and Exchange in Kano State Dr. Usman Hassan said the business workshop provided a platform for them to be detailed on the promotion of clusters which he said was key to large scale productionof the commodity.
He stressed that to meet global demand, despite having the best specie in the world, farmers must be ready to employ best production practices to be able to produce ginger in adequate quantity,sustainably enough to supply to domestic market and export.
Dr. Usman Hassan stressed the need for farmers to be enlightened on the entire value chain of the commodity which according to him included: production, processing, marketing and export.
‘’the value chain starts from selection of farm, preparation, seed selection, planting, weeding, and harvesting; in terms of production, then the second part of the value chain is processing, value addition, then marketing of the various ginger products, and exportation’’, he explained.
The business mogul further explained that Gezewa Commodity Market and exchange was ready to assist farmers with credit and inputs to enable them produce in large quantity for bothdomestic and foreign market.
Another Guest speaker at the event and CEO AIDA Group of Companies, Alh. Abubakar Abdullahi posited that the initiative which is private sector driven, when properly handled, especially with government providing them with enabling environment, would lead to employment generation, wealth creation, and poverty eradication.
According to Alh. Abubakar, the value chain of ginger is limitless as it could be processed into drinks, foods and various pharmaceutical products for the treatment of ailments.,
In a presentation on ‘Clustering as part of value chain for a better ginger production’. Program’s manager of the Association Prof. Emmanuel Danladi Ndan described the one-day business workshop as landmark that has brought new ideas into the ginger value chain, saying a lot had been gained especially, the idea embedded in the cluster farming which according to him would lead to quality production of the product.
Prof. Emmanuel said the event had equally brought new dimensions into ginger farming particularly in the area of funding which had been a major challenge to farmers over the years.
He posited that various areas of interest associated with the product were exposed to farmers via the program, and with optimism, he pointed that it would lead to quality and large-scale productivity in the entire value chain of the commodity for both local and international market.
