Nigerian ginger farmers are set to benefit from a new partnership between the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) and the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) aimed at tackling the devastating ginger blight outbreak that has affected production across the country.
The Director General of NBRDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, said the Agency is intensifying efforts to deploy biotechnology-driven solutions that can help farmers recover from the disease and restore Nigeria’s position as one of the world’s leading ginger producers.
Prof. Mustapha disclosed this while receiving the Managing Director of BOA, Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, and his team during a courtesy visit to the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting focused on how both organisations can collaborate to support affected farmers, improve ginger production and provide long-term solutions to the ginger blight epidemic that has disrupted livelihoods in many producing communities.
According to Prof. Mustapha, the disease has significantly reduced ginger output and created serious economic pressure for thousands of farmers who depend on the crop for income.
He explained that NBRDA is already carrying out research targeted at controlling the outbreak through biotechnology-based interventions.
“These efforts include the development of environmentally friendly biofungicides, improved disease management strategies and other innovative solutions aimed at reducing disease incidence and improving ginger productivity,” he said.
The NBRDA boss added that the Agency is also conducting field trials and validation studies to ensure the solutions work effectively under Nigerian farming conditions before they are made available to farmers nationwide.
He noted that the collaboration with BOA would help bridge the gap between scientific research and practical application by improving farmers’ access to financing, extension support and capacity-building programmes.
For many ginger farmers, access to funding and technical support has remained a major challenge, especially after the outbreak affected yields and market supply in recent years.
Speaking during the visit, BOA Managing Director, Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, said the Bank is ready to work with NBRDA to ensure research breakthroughs translate into practical benefits for farmers and agribusinesses.
He commended the proactive steps taken by NBRDA in responding to the ginger crisis and other agricultural challenges affecting the country.
Sotinrin also reaffirmed BOA’s commitment to supporting programmes that improve agricultural productivity, strengthen value chains and create jobs within Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
As part of the resolutions reached during the meeting, both organisations agreed to establish a joint technical committee made up of representatives from NBRDA and BOA.
The committee will develop a framework for collaboration, identify priority intervention areas and facilitate the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise the partnership.
The partnership is expected to provide fresh hope for Nigerian ginger farmers seeking lasting solutions to the blight outbreak and better support to return to full production.