Nigeria ranks third producers of Ginger globally, with World highest quality –Experts

By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.

Nigeria Ginger is an ocean of wealth, discovered in 1823. Nigeria ginger has the highest quality in the world, and is ranked the third top producer globally.

Ginger, which stands out as a strategic crop with high global demand for its medicinal and industrial uses, yet the food value of this important commodity remains largely untapped in Nigeria.

Nigeria is ranked the third top producer of Ginger globally, with an estimated annual production of 160,000 metric tons. Kaduna, the highest producer in the country, ccontributes60% of the national inputs, followed by Nasarawa, and Gombe states. However, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with the fertile production zones, Bwari, Kuje, Abaji, and Kuwari, has the same capacity of becoming the epicenter of excellence for ginger processing and commercialization.

This investor’s forum provides a timely opportunity to engage critical stakeholders in identifying investment opportunities as well as designing practices, thereby boosting ginger-based industrial activities within the FCT.

To enrich this experience and deepen the economic potential of this forum, we will also feature exhibitions and the future vision of Ginger products and innovations.

Further, these exhibitions showcase the creativity, enterprises, and revolving industrial applications of Ginger, from oil extracts, to teblends, to Soaps, to spices, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products.

We believe that this visual and interactive display will inspire greater confidence and possibilities that lied within the ginger value chains and encourage prospective investors to explore bankable ventures, these are the words of the Federal Capital Territory, Coordinating office, of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council – RMRDC, Olatujubosun Olajubu, In his welcome address speech at the day one of the two days Investors forum on industrial utilization of Ginger value chains and its economic potentials in the FCT, organized by Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), FCT, with a theme “Industrializing the ginger value chain Harnessing the innovations, investment, and the market opportunities for sustainable economic growth in the FCT.

In his opening address, the Director General, RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo M. Ike-Muonso, while welcoming the participants at the investors forum, Said ” It is with great pleasure that he welcome you all to this investors forum convened to explore one of the most Nigeria’s promising crops” Ginger” and the fast industrial opportunities that embedded within its value chain, today’s gathering is not just another conference, but it is a call to action.

Further, he said: “Nigeria is blessed with an abundance of Ginger, yet much of its economic value remains untapped, despite being among the world’s third-largest producers of Ginger. Its Local industry continues to underutilize this resource. Exporting largely in raw form, while importing processed ginger products at a trillion

This forum, according to the DG RMRDC, seeks to change that narrative, through the shared commitment of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, the FCT department of the Technology, Science and innovation, the National Ginger Association of Nigeria, and other stakeholders we are creating a platform for investors, entrepreneurs, researchers, policymakers and farmers to connect and collaborate.

Together, the DG Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Prof. Nnanyelugo stated they aim to drive industrial investment, develop processing infrastructure, and promote value-added production of ginger-based products that meet both local demands and international standards.

Prof. Nnanyelugo emphasized that value addition is the key to industrial growth, economic diversification, and sustainable job creation”, DG RMRDC, Representatives, Dr. Mrs Edith C. Obi, Overseas Director, (SIESD) stated.

The Ginger value chain offers opportunities for manufacturing extracts, oil, beverages, health supplements, a nd more. According to DG RMRDC, our objective is to ensure that every segment of this chain becomes productive, profitable,, and globally competitive.

As Nigeria’s premier institution for Raw Materials development, the RMRDC has, over the last decades, championed the drive for local sourcing of Industrial raw materials and the promotion of value-added manufacturing”, Prof. Nnanyelugo said.

The RMRDC stands ready to support investors with technical guidance, reliable data, market intelligence, research outcomes, and strategic partnerships that will help bring your ideas to reality”, Prof. Nnanyelugo said.

RMRDC, which has come to say no to the exporting of Nigeria’s raw materials, in their raw forms, is poised to promote 30% value addition to our local materials.

Fielding questions from Journalists, The President, National Ginger Association of Nigeria, describes the event as a turning point, a cornerstone, in the history of Ginger industry in Nigeria because they have long awaited this time where all the stakeholders in the ginger can come together and take a good decision with the support of government of the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Renewed Hope Agenda.

Speaking on the impact of Ginger, National President, National Ginger Association of Nigeria, Nuhu B. Daudu, reflects on 100 years, 18th century, where most women don’t have breast cancer because of the intake of Ginger, both in their soups, and even in their curries foods, because of these ginger hcanattack any free radical that is already existing in human that can bring piling up to the process that you have pre cancer cells or you have cancer, according to Squadron Leader, Nuhu B. Daudu, (Rtd) ginger, he said: “has the capacity as reported by medical journal from America, ginger has the rudiment that gives the cure for human.

Also speaking, Dr. Talks about the huge market opportunities, dried powder ginger is needed worldwide. According to her, the versatility of ginger is globally used and she advised the Nigerian youths to venture into ginger farming; according to he, they will never regret it.

“I will put my money where my mouth is, with every authority 13 years in ginger research and farming right now, I will tell anybody to go ginger farming they will never regret it, it is a crop that needs little to minimal supervision, is not really tasking, it doesn’t take your time, the moment you plant it the right way, you leave it there for months, the nature is taking care of it for you, although you still do small, small weeding, unlike the other crops that you have to groom them like babies, ginger is not like that, at the end, the return on investment of Ginger is higher than the Labour you put”, Dr. (Mrs) Adedeyin Asa, Head of Station, National Port Crop, Research Institute, Kaduna Sub – Station.

Standard Times Nigeria Newspaper, which has covered the event, reports the presence of dignitaries, including the Emir of Zazzazu, and the Sakaai Jiwa, HRH, Dr. Idris Musa, MFR. Amongst others.

The event which began on July, 8th, concluded on, 9th July with a communique from the stakeholders at the conference.