The Nigerian Ginger: A Historical Overview

In Southern Kaduna and neighbouring belts, ginger was not just a spice: it was school fees, food on the table, and hope for thousands of smallholder families. A BBC agriculture feature confirmed this period as one of the strongest rural-driven export demonstrations in West Africa.

The crop also thrives in Bauchi, Nasarawa, and Gombe, where smallholder farmers form the backbone of production. Cooperative groups in these states helped farmers access export markets and earn premium prices, sustaining rural livelihoods and linking local success to wider market opportunities.

Production grew moderately over the past decade, averaging 4% of global ginger exports from 2013 to 2024. However, output fluctuated and declined sharply from 2023 due to disease outbreaks. Yield per hectare peaked at 9.1 tons in 2016, while harvested area fell from a 2013 high of 137,000 hectares.

That strength has slowly slipped away. Uncoordinated policies, poor infrastructure, and the 2023 blight outbreak sharply reduced output. Reports from the Agricultural Commodity Exchange for Africa (AFEX) and AgroNigeria, visiting key growing regions, show steady erosion of competitiveness, with disease, rising costs, and failing infrastructure leaving Nigeria behind global rivals. As an agricultural extension officer told Al Jazeera, “We lost time, and time lost is yield lost.” Many farmers now see their once-reliable crop struggling to survive.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports that Nigeria’s ginger exports fell 74% to ₦6.28 billion in the first nine months of 2024, down from ₦23.76 billion in the same period of 2023. Florence Edwards, president of the Ginger Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (GGPMAN), attributes the decline mainly to blight, compounded by the recycling of disease-prone seeds over 20 years old.

The federal government responded with ₦1.6 billion in support and distributed pesticides and fungicides. Experts, however, emphasize that disease-resistant seeds are more crucial than additional chemicals. Meanwhile, the crisis has driven a six-fold price increase for ginger bags, from ₦50,000 in 2023 to ₦300,000 in 2025, further deepening financial strain on farmers.

This feature explores how the sector rose, where governance failed, and what it will take to rebuild a ginger value chain that works for its people.

The Rise: What Made Nigeria Competitive

Nigeria’s ginger business demonstrated robust growth potential starting in the early 1980s. Production rose steadily from about 180,000 tonnes to over 681,000 tonnes by 2019, cementing Nigeria’s position as a global ginger powerhouse. In key producing states such as Kaduna, Bauchi, and Nasarawa, government initiatives provided farmers with cheaper inputs and extension services, boosting efficiency and output.

Moreover, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) played a crucial role, offering export incentives that improved access to international buyers. Complementing this, Nigeria’s ginger, renowned for its high oleoresin content, earned classification as “premium grade” in several international spice markets, according to PBS.

This competitiveness stemmed from low input costs, abundant land, and growing global demand for spice derivatives. Farmers in Southern Kaduna, for instance, supplied major exporters and commanded premium prices. A local cooperative leader recalled, “We could pay school fees and hire labor from a single hectare of ginger; it was our lifeline.”

Similarly, another farmer told a BBC rural livelihoods report, “We believed ginger would take our children further than we went”.

Governance and Policy Failures: Root Causes of Decline

As Nigeria’s ginger industry expanded, deeper structural issues progressively weakened its foundation. Firstly, inconsistent government policies eroded trust among stakeholders. Subsidy programmes, vital for cheaper inputs, were introduced only to be scaled back or scrapped without warning. At the same time, export incentives, critical for maintaining overseas demand, also suffered abrupt changes, generating uncertainty.

Consequently, shortages of essential inputs and disease-resistant seeds worsened losses, leaving farmers vulnerable. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) trade data, ginger exports fell from ₦23.76 billion in 2023 to ₦6.28 billion in 2024, largely due to blight (tuber rot).

In addition, Florence Edwards, president of the Ginger Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (GGPMAN), said the outbreak is rapidly reducing output and exports. “When there is no ginger to plant, there will be no ginger to export,” she told BusinessDay, noting that many farmers recycle seeds over 20 years old, increasing vulnerability to blight.

On the ground, farmers such as Philip Akuso from Bwari, FCT, describe “50-50” planting prospects, struggling with a lack of healthy seedlings and financial hardship. He lamented surging ginger prices and scarce inputs that severely limit harvests. Similarly, Jerry Tobi, a chief farmer representing over 100,000 farmers, warned of up to 90% yield losses due to blight, with insecurity and youth unemployment threatening the sector’s future.

Moreover, a large portion of the ₦6 billion National Agricultural Development Fund never reached farmers, highlighting gaps in delivery. A policy analyst told CNN, “When funds bypass farmers, capacity collapses at the roots.”

Research and extension services have lagged. Despite widespread outbreaks of ginger blight and tuber rot, state research organisations failed to provide disease-resistant seeds. Farmer losses have exceeded ₦12 billion in 2023, deeply hurting incomes and replanting potential, as Minister of State for Agriculture Sabi Abdullahi highlighted.

Furthermore, value chains and infrastructure remain underdeveloped. Many farmers still sun-dry ginger without modern facilities, while processing plants are scarce and mostly foreign-owned. High logistics costs further erode profitability. AFEX’s 2019 research showed Nigeria accounted for only 4% of global ginger exports. Accordingly, a processor in Zaria told The Guardian, “We lose the market not because we lack ginger, but because we lack the system to move it.”

Additionally, poor collaboration between federal and state agencies has left governance fragmented. Ad hoc input distribution, missing export data, and opaque monitoring have paralysed effective action. A Kaduna trader lamented, “Even when buyers wanted ginger, delays and uncertainty meant we lost contracts we counted on.”

Concerns have arisen regarding donor-funded agricultural programmes. For instance, Dr. Henrietta Onwuegbuzie, associate professor of Entrepreneurship at Lagos Business School, cautioned that some “grant-aided” interventions involved genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that weakened indigenous crops and compromised soil health. She described this as a form of “biological warfare,” warning that Nigerian ginger is now almost extinct after receiving “grant aid” to “boost’” production..

In contrast, Deborah Apochi of Shield of Women Ltd attributed yield declines mainly to weak seed systems, poor soil health, and lack of extension support, advocating disease-free, climate-resilient seedlings and community seed banks.

Farmers have called urgently for a ₦20 billion revolving fund and the establishment of a National Ginger Seed Bank, underscoring that disease-resistant planting materials are vital to revival.

Ultimately, without transparent, coordinated, and sustained commitment to these interventions, Nigeria risks losing not only its ginger industry but also the livelihoods that depend on it.

Farmers’ Plight: Voices from the ground.

Recent field surveys and cooperative reports paint a grim picture of Nigeria’s once-thriving ginger sector. Research by AgriFoodNetworks in Kachia and Kagarko found that many farmers had abandoned ginger cultivation due to repeated crop failures and a lack of healthy rhizomes. Survey data shows a steep drop in area planted in 2024 as rising input costs and scarcity of disease-resistant seedlings hit hardest.

The human cost is clear. A farmer in Kaduna told BusinessDay, “We invested N1 million last year but have nothing to show for it.” Cooperative leaders confirm sacks of drying ginger sit unsold because overseas buyers cancelled orders amid erratic supplies. Price spikes compound suffering, with ginger costs soaring sixfold from N50,000 to N300,000 per bag in less than two years due to collapsing output.

A young farmer shared on PBS NewsHour, “My father built a house with ginger. I cannot even pay for fertiliser with it today,” symbolising the devastating impact on family livelihoods. The social fallout extends beyond income losses: school fees are missed, youth unemployment rises, and rural-urban migration accelerates as young people abandon farms. Cooperative data confirms increased abandonment of ginger plots, often replaced by maize or other lower-risk crops.

This highlights the urgent need for coordinated support and sustainable solutions, moving the crisis from policy failure into personal reality.

Infrastructure and value addition: Bottlenecks and challenges

At the core of Nigeria’s ginger industry collapse lies a critical weakness: inadequate infrastructure. Recovery is severely hindered by poor post-harvest facilities. Drying yards remain open-air and lack mechanized systems or proper storage, causing significant post-harvest losses before ginger reaches markets.

Segun Adebayo, Deputy Director at the Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR), highlights another pressing concern. Nigeria’s ginger farms heavily rely on agrochemicals that, while intended to boost yield, gradually degrade soil health and threaten long-term productivity.

Adding a socio-political dimension, Adetiloye Ayeola, CEO of the Product Export Development Alliance (PEDA), links declining output to rising insecurity in ginger-growing areas, which is causing young farmers to abandon their fields. Without better input regulation and improved rural security, Nigeria risks losing its ginger advantage not only to disease but also to soil depletion.

Transportation challenges further exacerbate these issues. Poor road conditions from farms to ports increase costs and erode farmers’ profits. Processing infrastructure is starkly lacking; few oleoresin extraction plants exist, and most farmers sell raw ginger at low farm-gate prices. According to a report by the Nigerian Export Academy (NEA), Nigeria has yet to adopt mechanized production or international quality standards widely. Consequently, exporters often pay for raw ginger but miss out on value-added gains.

A Kaduna-based processor confirms, “Even quality ginger loses value without proper drying facilities.” A supply chain expert linked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) told CNN, “Without storage and drying infrastructure, ginger turns to waste before it becomes wealth.”

Despite contributing nearly 17% of global production in 2019, the 2023 blight outbreak devastated harvests, showing how infrastructure gaps amplify crises. Figures from AFEX and AgriFoodNetworks underscore the urgent need for intervention, with experts warning a return to pre-blight production could take up to five years.

Global competition: Nigeria’s Lost Edge

In stark contrast, India dominates global ginger production, yielding over 1.7 million metric tonnes annually with outputs above 100,000 hectograms per hectare, supported by heavily mechanized, integrated export hubs.

China remains the world’s largest producer, cultivating around 3 million metric tonnes annually on more than 55,000 hectares, achieving high yields and a rapidly growing export volume of 450,000 metric tonnes in Q3 2025.

Regionally, Ghana and Burkina Faso have strengthened production by consolidating farmer cooperatives and investing in processing infrastructure, improving product consistency and export quality.

According to World Bank WITS data, Nigeria exported about 85.9 million kilograms of ginger in 2023, valued at US$47.6 million, substantially behind India and below Nigeria’s historical records. A Ghanaian exporter told BBC Africa, “Nigeria has quantity. We have consistency.

This illustrates that Nigeria’s loss of market share stems not from production decline but from limited investment in value chains and supply chain resilience, while competitors capitalized on processed, value-added exports.

Despite Nigeria’s ginger being prized for its rich oil and oleoresin content, weak mechanization, poor post-harvest processing, and interruptions from agrochemical dependence and insecurity undermine competitiveness. Nigerian exporters mainly sell raw ginger at low farm-gate prices, whereas competitors earn higher margins from processed products meeting international standards.

To reclaim global standing, Nigeria must modernize production techniques, strengthen cooperatives, expand mechanized processing, and ensure reliable supply chains, rebuilding international buyer confidence and boosting export revenues.

Lessons and a Road-Map for Revival.

There is no magic bullet for Nigeria’s ginger sector challenges; strategic reforms and investments are essential. Recovery is possible with political will and sustained funding, according to multiple expert sources, including the NEA and AgriFoodNetworks.

Policy Reforms: A multi-year national ginger strategy should guarantee steady input supplies, clear export regulations, and strengthened extension and seed programs, while encouraging private-sector participation to drive innovation.

• Infrastructure Investment: Modernized facilities, such as those at Mamaland Foods, help farmers overcome blight setbacks through mechanized drying and value-added processing. Upgrading transport networks from farms to ports is crucial to reducing logistics constraints.

• Cooperatives and Financing: Strengthening smallholder cooperatives enhances bargaining power and access to affordable credit, replicating successes in Ghana and Burkina Faso.

• Export Standards and Quality Compliance: The Nigerian Ginger Association (NGAN) reports that weak certification and traceability have led to rejection of up to 30% of exports, harming reputation and market access. Enforcing sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards is vital.

• Regional Benchmarking and Value Chain Rebuilding: An ECOWAS agriculture adviser told Future UAE analysts, “Nigeria’s ginger can rise again, but only if the entire chain from seed to shipping is rebuilt.” Initiatives supporting farmers’ adoption of sustainable, organic farming methods to restore soil health are underway.

Since 2023, the Nigerian government has allocated over US$1 million towards blight control and farmer support, in partnership with groups like Dimitra International, training thousands in improved practices. Industry veterans, including trader Mohammadu Sani, cite insecurity, transport challenges, and disease as key obstacles, underscoring the need for coordinated action.

The pathway forward involves the adoption of technology, strengthening of cooperative efforts, quality assurance, and policy reform. As Mamaland Foods’ CEO notes, “Empowering farmers with knowledge and tools brings hope for a vibrant ginger industry that can reclaim its global stature.”

Roadmap to Revive Nigeria’s Ginger Industry.

Reviving Nigeria’s ginger industry requires strategic reforms and investment. The priority is developing and distributing disease-resistant seeds through the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) to combat blight and improve yields. Alongside this, mechanized drying yards, storage, and processing facilities will reduce post-harvest losses and enable value addition, turning raw produce into higher-value exports.

To make these improvements effective, extension services must deliver modern agronomy, pest management, and climate-smart practices directly to smallholders, ensuring they adopt the techniques that boost productivity. Coordinated policy support is also vital: a centralized ginger management body should unify federal and state efforts, integrate farmer and private-sector input, and guarantee transparent funding and consistent export regulation.

Finally, empowering farmers financially through affordable credit and stronger cooperatives will help them secure inputs, access markets, and improve bargaining power. Coupled with international-quality certification, these measures will restore export confidence, reduce rejection rates, and position Nigeria to reclaim its global ginger standing.

Conclusion

For Nigeria, ginger is more than a spice; it reflects broader institutional weaknesses. Once a global leader, production is now declining, value chains have collapsed, and farmers are deeply in debt.

Field reporting across Kaduna, Bauchi, and Nasarawa shows that many smallholders are abandoning ginger entirely, turning to lower-risk crops like maize, a clear sign of systemic stress.

Yet, as experts from GGPMAN, the Nigerian Export Academy, and AgrifoodNetworks emphasise, decline is not irreversible. A coordinated policy, investment in mechanized processing, disease-resistant seeds, and strengthened cooperatives can restore both output and market confidence.

Globally, Nigeria lags behind India and China, which leverage mechanization, export hubs, and quality standards, and even regional competitors like Ghana and Burkina Faso now outpace Nigeria in reliability and processed exports.

Revitalising the sector requires a bold, integrated approach: transparent governance, robust infrastructure, and farmer empowerment, with a focus on value addition and export competitiveness.

Thousands of smallholder families, whose livelihoods hinge on ginger, depend on decisive action. Strong policy, strategic investment, and coordinated execution will determine whether Nigeria’s ginger story becomes one of redemption or regret.