FG inaugurates national control task force to combat ginger blight epidemic in Nigeria

The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Ginger Blight Epidemic Control Taskforce in a move to mitigate the devastating impact of the ginger blight epidemic.

This initiative aims to address the widespread damage inflicted by the fungal disease on ginger farms across various states in Nigeria.

During the inauguration ceremony held in Abuja on Monday, Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, emphasized the critical role the Taskforce would play in the government’s response to the crisis.

Representing the minister, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, reiterated the severity of the situation, particularly in Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Kyari highlighted the staggering losses incurred by affected farmers, estimating over N12 billion in damages in Southern Kaduna alone, a region renowned for ginger production.

Mr. Abdullahi Abubakar, the Chairman of the Taskforce and Director of the Federal Department of Agriculture, assured stakeholders of swift action to salvage the ginger value chain.

He emphasized the collaborative effort required from all parties to effectively combat the epidemic and restore the ginger industry to its former glory.