Nigeria's ginger sector, once a global leader, is facing sharp decline as production plummets and prices soar, leaving smallholder farmers and SMEs struggling. Output, which peaked at 927,000 metric tonnes (MT) in 2022, crashed to about 420,000 MT in …  | By Enitan Ajebukola Ajewumi on September 1, 2025 | Nigeria's ginger sector, once a global leader, is facing sharp decline as production plummets and prices soar, leaving smallholder farmers and SMEs struggling. Output, which peaked at 927,000 metric tonnes (MT) in 2022, crashed to about 420,000 MT in 2023 after a fungal disease wiped out farms in Kaduna and Niger, with losses estimated at over ₦20bn. Prices have surged beyond reach, with a measure of ginger now selling for about ₦12,500, up from less than ₦1,000 just a few years ago. Though government announced ₦2.6bn in support funds, ginger growers say most SMEs and local farmers have not received relief. Read also; Stakeholders are pushing for private sector-led solutions such as clean seed multiplication labs and a "buy-back" model to rebuild the value chain, while NGOs are already helping farmers diversify into tomatoes and other crops for survival. Experts warn that without urgent action, Nigeria may lose out on a sector projected to contribute over $6bn to the economy by 2030. | | | |
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