Ginger farmers in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are raising alarm over their dwindling prospects for the 2025 planting season, following a crippling fungal outbreak that decimated farms in 2023 and continues to impact the supply of quality seedlings.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, farmers expressed fears that, without urgent government support, ginger cultivation in the area may grind to a halt, affecting both livelihoods and local food supply.
Philip Akuso, a seasoned ginger farmer in Bwari, described the situation as dire. "It's a 50-50 chance this season. Many of us still can't find clean seedlings after last year's fungal outbreak. That disease really set us back," he said.
The 2023 fungal disease severely impacted ginger farms across key producing areas, with the Federal Government estimating losses at over ₦12 billion by 2024. This has led to a surge in ginger prices, from ₦350,000 per bag in December 2024 to as high as ₦800,000 earlier this year, before settling around ₦700,000.
Akuso noted that while some farmers have managed to procure seedlings from neighboring Kaduna communities like Kachia and Jaba, the high cost of transportation and inputs makes it nearly impossible for many smallholder farmers in Bwari to compete.
"Right now, ginger farming is for the wealthy. Without capital, access to quality seedlings is out of reach. And those of us still struggling from last year's losses are hesitant to reinvest," he said.
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Still, Akuso remains cautiously hopeful. "We're optimistic about a better yield by year-end, but we need support to stand a real chance."
Another farmer, Somo Yakubu, shared that he had been able to salvage two bags of ginger from the last harvest, which he intends to replant this season. He explained that his area in Kawu-Bwari was spared the worst of the outbreak, allowing many farmers to at least partially harvest their crops before the disease spread.
Yakubu joined the call for government intervention, urging authorities and stakeholders to prioritize agricultural research and recovery efforts to prevent further devastation of the ginger sub-sector.
"The government must step in—not just with funding, but with practical solutions to stop this disease from repeating the damage we saw last year," he said.
As ginger remains a key cash crop and export product for Nigeria, stakeholders fear that failure to address the current crisis could spell long-term setbacks for the industry, especially for smallholder farmers who form the backbone of production.
