Worried by the lack of a ginger value chain in Kaduna South Senatorial District, the Senator representing the area at the National Assembly, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, has empowered over 150 persons across the senatorial district with cash and slicing machines to boost production.
The event, organised by the Senator’s office in collaboration with the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation, also trained participants on modern ginger processing techniques within their communities.
Senator Katung, represented by the former council chairman of Zango Kataf local government area, Mr Christopher Haruna, explained that the initiative was intended to improve the quality and add value to ginger production in the region.
He urged the participants to make the most of the training, adding that each of them would receive cash support of N50,000, and groups of ten would receive one ginger slicing machine for free.
While soliciting support and prayers from his constituents, the senator pledged to continue enacting laws and supporting government policies that will positively impact their lives.
Earlier, the executive director of the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation, represented by assistant director Engineer Joseph Adebija, assured that they would continue to support ginger farmers with technical knowledge to boost ginger production and processing in Southern Kaduna.
Presenting a paper on the ginger farming business, global competitiveness, and the value of Nigerian ginger varieties, the provost of Kaduna State University, Kafanchan Campus, Professor Ibrahim Abbas Sodangi, advised ginger farmers against rushing to sell their produce immediately after harvest. Instead, he suggested they explore other means of raising money to meet their immediate needs.
Professor Sodangi noted that Nigeria’s ginger is in high demand globally. However, the sector faces numerous challenges, including poor soil fertility, shortage of improved seeds, substandard agronomic practices, pest and disease issues, poor post-harvest handling and processing, and low technological usage.
He emphasised that ginger farmers suffer the most due to a lack of knowledge and encouraged those present to share their training with others in their communities.
Also, a legislative aide to the Senator, Barr. Gambo Zango mentioned that participants were carefully selected from the eight local government areas that make up the senatorial district.
In an interview, some of the participants expressed appreciation to the Senator for the intervention, noting that the training had further exposed them to important insights in ginger farming and processing.