The Federal Government, through the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), has supplied agricultural inputs to smallholder ginger farmers in Kaduna State in response to the impact of ginger blight disease on their fields throughout seven local government areas.
Approximately 5,000 smallholder farmers suffered losses during the 2023 crop season as a result of the impact of ginger blight disease on their properties.
Muhammad Abu Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund, announced the intervention at the flag-off ceremony in Kachia on Tuesday, stating that it is the first phase of NADF’s input distribution programme under The Ginger Recovery Advancement and Transformation for Economic Empowerment.
He said that the scheme is intended to supply agricultural inputs as part of the Federal Government’s support for smallholder ginger producers.
According to him:
“The programme will enable the affected farmers practice crop rotation on their farms affected by the ginger blight disease while also supporting them towards improved livelihoods from the economic losses they incurred due to the impact of the disease.”
The NADF boss added: “NADF will further support the crop production process by providing Monitoring and Evaluation services, good agronomic practices and market linkages for the farmers while also developing programmes to strengthen and develop the entire ginger value chain.”
While kicking off the distribution exercise, Kaduna State Governor Sen Uba Sani, represented by Deputy Governor Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, stated that the state government is committed to continuing to provide assistance to smallholder farmers as a strategy to combat poverty and ‘boost the economic fortunes of our people’.
The governor thanked the federal government for its persistent and continued support of the state government, and he committed to continue working closely with the federal government and other important stakeholders for the benefit of the state’s people.
Also, he was grateful for the prompt action taken, especially the formation of the National Ginger Blight Epidemic Taskforce to address the problems in a comprehensive manner resulting from the significant losses experienced by our ginger growers.
NADF reports that the first phase of the intervention programme will supply 5000 registered and validated smallholder ginger farmers in the seven affected local government areas of Kachia, Zango-Kataf, Kaura, Kagarko, Jema’a, Jabba, and Sanga in Kaduna State with inputs such as fertilisers, agrochemicals, and crop protection products.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
