From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) is providing support to 5,000 ginger farmers in Kaduna State with free farming inputs, as part of its N1.6 billion initiative to rejuvenate the ginger industry following the devastating blight epidemic of 2023.
This initiative, known as the Ginger Recovery, Advancement, and Transformation for Economic Empowerment (GRATE), aims to improve ginger yields and support the livelihoods of affected farmers.
The NADF is partnering with the Kaduna Agricultural Development Agency (KADA) to implement the program, which includes stakeholder engagement, farmer screening, and input distribution.
The inputs being provided to each farmer include:
Four bags of 50kg NPK 20.10.10 fertilizer
Two bags of 50kg Urea fertilizer
One bag of 25kg Maize and Sorghum hybrid seeds
Herbicides and crop protection products (Fungicide, Insecticide) for crop rotation
The program is expected to benefit farmers in seven local government areas (LGAs) of Kaduna State: Kachia, Jaba, Kagarko, Zangon-Kataf, Kaura, Jema’a, and Sanga.
According to NADF representative Samuel Aende, the initiative aims to bolster the ginger value chain and improve the livelihoods of ginger producers. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between NADF and KADA to ensure the program’s success.
KADA representative David Jonathan expressed the agency’s commitment to supporting the initiative and empowering rural agricultural communities.
President of the National Ginger Farmers Association, Nuhu Dauda, praised President Bola Tinubu for his quick intervention in response to the 2023 epidemic. He acknowledged that the president’s support has been crucial in helping farmers recover from the crisis.
Kachia LGA representative Victoria Saidu highlighted the council’s efforts to ensure good ginger yields, in collaboration with the state government and NADF. She urged participants and beneficiaries to make judicious use of the information and inputs provided.