The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, have unveiled the Ginger Value Chain Recovery and Sustainability Programme, a major intervention designed to restore Nigeria’s ginger industry following the devastating ginger blight epidemic that severely affected production in key growing regions.
The programme was launched on Friday at the NRCRI headquarters in Umudike, Abia State, bringing together government officials, researchers, development partners, commodity associations and private sector stakeholders to develop a sustainable recovery plan for the country’s ginger value chain.
Representing the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim, the General Manager of Technical Services, Ernest Ihedigbo, described the initiative as a significant demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to repositioning agriculture as a catalyst for economic diversification, food security, industrial growth and export competitiveness under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the partnership with NRCRI underscores NADF’s mandate as a catalytic financing institution focused on translating agricultural policies into sustainable investments that strengthen research, innovation and national food sovereignty.
According to him, meaningful agricultural transformation requires strong research institutions, modern technologies and strategic investments that bridge scientific discoveries with production and market opportunities.
Ihedigbo disclosed that NADF is implementing two major interventions to support the sector. The first seeks to strengthen selected agricultural research institutes as Centres of Excellence through investments in modern laboratories, biotechnology facilities, renewable energy systems, irrigation infrastructure, digital platforms and innovation hubs.
He announced that NRCRI has been selected as the South-East beneficiary in the first phase of the programme and will receive support for energy and digital infrastructure, as well as laboratory equipment installation and maintenance.
The intervention is expected to boost research capacity, improve the capabilities of scientists, promote demand-driven innovations, strengthen linkages between researchers and farmers, facilitate the commercialisation of agricultural technologies and encourage partnerships with leading international research organisations.
The second intervention, the Ginger Value Chain Recovery and Sustainability Programme, is specifically aimed at rebuilding the ginger industry after the 2023 ginger blight epidemic, which disrupted production, affected thousands of farmers, reduced export earnings and exposed weaknesses within the value chain.
Under the initiative, NADF will provide six metric tonnes of ginger rhizomes and support infrastructure for germplasm conservation, disease-free seed multiplication, tissue culture propagation, adaptive field preservation and the development of sustainable seed systems.
Ihedigbo also revealed that NADF previously contributed to the Federal Government’s Ginger Blight Epidemic Control Taskforce through the implementation of the Ginger Recovery Advancement and Transformation for Economic Empowerment (GRATE) Programme.
Through the intervention, about 6,000 farmers in Kaduna, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory received improved seeds, alternative crop inputs and integrated pest management support aimed at containing the disease outbreak and restoring livelihoods.
“Moving beyond social impact interventions, the Ginger Value Chain Recovery and Sustainability Programme is designed to drive recovery, resilience and long-term transformation of the ginger sub-sector,” he said.
Representing the Abia State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Cliff Agbeze, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Ijeoma Adamma Agoha, described the partnership between NADF and NRCRI as a demonstration of the power of strategic collaboration in addressing challenges across Nigeria’s agricultural value chains.
She commended NADF for selecting NRCRI as a beneficiary of the intervention, noting that the decision recognises the institute’s research capacity and Abia State’s growing reputation as a hub for agricultural innovation in the South-East.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Director of NRCRI, Professor Chiedozie Ngozi Egesi, the Director of Root Crops Research, Dr. Adeyemi Olojede, described the programme as a timely intervention capable of addressing critical challenges facing Nigeria’s ginger industry.
He called on stakeholders to work together to develop practical solutions that will restore production and strengthen resilience within the value chain.
Also speaking, the representative of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Morrison Udo, described ginger as one of Nigeria’s priority non-oil export commodities and expressed confidence that the initiative would address challenges relating to funding, infrastructure, disease management and policy support.
Similarly, Professor Ikechukwu Dallas Chima, representing the National President of the National Ginger Association of Nigeria, described the programme as a significant national assignment with far-reaching economic implications.
He noted that the global ginger market is projected to exceed $3 billion in the coming years and warned that Nigeria cannot afford to lose its competitive edge in the international market.
Chima commended NADF for supporting NRCRI’s scientific and research efforts and urged stakeholders to work collectively to build a sustainable foundation for the growth and competitiveness of Nigeria’s ginger industry.