Abuja: The Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Mohammed Ibrahim, announced the launch of the Ginger Value Chain Recovery and Sustainability Programme (GVCRSP) in collaboration with the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI). The initiative aims to rebuild the ginger value chain and support farmers impacted by the 2023 ginger blight outbreak.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ibrahim, represented by NADF General Manager, Technical Services, Ernest Ihedigbo, stated that the programme is part of a broader ginger recovery roadmap developed in response to the outbreak. The epidemic disrupted production, significantly affecting thousands of farmers, reducing export earnings, and exposing structural weaknesses within the ginger value chain.
The NADF has committed to providing six metric tonnes of ginger rhizomes and supporting germplasm conservation, disease-free seed multiplication, and sustainable seed system development. This programme is a testament to the Federal Government’s dedication to agricultural transformation, food security, economic diversification, and export competitiveness. It aligns with NADF’s mandate to convert agricultural policies into sustainable investments that bolster research, innovation, and national food sovereignty.
Ibrahim emphasized the necessity of robust research institutions, modern technologies, and strategic investments to drive agricultural transformation. The NADF is implementing a flagship intervention to enhance selected agricultural research institutes as centres of excellence nationwide. This intervention involves investments in laboratories, biotechnology facilities, renewable energy systems, irrigation infrastructure, digital platforms, and innovation hubs.
NRCRI has been chosen as the South-East beneficiary, receiving support for energy and digital infrastructure along with laboratory equipment. This support is expected to strengthen research capacity, encourage innovation, improve farmer linkages, and aid in the commercialisation of agricultural technologies.
Previously, NADF supported the Federal Government’s Ginger Blight Epidemic Control Taskforce through the Ginger Recovery Advancement and Transformation for Economic Empowerment Programme. This intervention assisted around 6,000 farmers in Kaduna, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory with improved seeds, alternative crop inputs, and integrated pest management support. The effort helped contain the disease outbreak, restore livelihoods, and lay the groundwork for the long-term recovery of the ginger sub-sector.