Ginger is well known as a food spice across the world and . It is the underground rhizome of a perennial tropical crop called Ginger plant (Zingiberofficinale). Originally, the plant is a native of South Eastern Asia but over centuries has been introduced to various parts of the world like the Caribbean, the Americas and Africa. Presently, the top growers of the crop includes Jamaica, Indonesia, Fiji etc.
A mature ginger rhizome is fibrous and has a striated texture. The outer skin of the rhizome is brownish in colour while the inner flesh depending on the variety may be red, yellow or white.
The commodity is so popular owing to its numbers uses. Some of them are herbal medicines, spices of bread in bakeries, and its uses in breweries to produce drinks among others. Going by official statistics, Nigeria is currently the third largest exporter of Ginger in the world after China and India.
Experts say the Nigerian ginger is highly regarded in the international market for its quality and highly medicinal value. Specifically, its aroma, purgency and high oil and Aleoresin content are other distinct features of ginger products from Nigeria.
In the Nigerian market, ginger is not only popular, it is a very high demand crop commodity. At a time when the government is implementing various measures to boost the agricultural sector, experts say this has provided entrepreneurs with a platform to key into the economic diversification policy of the government.
Ginger production is massive in Nigeria and we want to give you an insight into what the industry currently looks like.
Globally, Nigeria has the 2nd largest production share of about 16% after India with a production share of 33.9%.
Every year, Nigeria averages a production volume of over 400,000 Metric tonnes of Ginger across the 36 states. In 2017, we had a production volume of about 349,895 and it was higher in 2016 with 522,096 metric tonnes.
Generally, ginger is usually exported in the fresh form, the dried form and the processed form which is the powdered ginger. The dried rhizome commands the highest export price and can sell for about 900 Naira per kilo in the global market.
Nigerian farmers can tap into the $3billion global ginger market to earn foreign exchange as the country explores opportunities to grow its non-oil exports opportunities.
Nigeria’s ginger production is put at 31 million metric tons while demand is put at 65 million MT, leaving a supply-demand gap of 34 million MT, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture.
The country exports majority of its ginger which makes Nigeria the third highest exporter of the crop globally.
Despite the potential in the production of the crop, the country is yet to fully harness the economic benefits from growing ginger, on account of low quality seeds and low use of technology, say farmers.
Ginger is used for a wide range of things across Nigeria. The active ingredient, Gingerol is known to help fight infections, lower blood sugar and reduce heart risks. It is also used in the brewery/beverage industry, cosmetic industry and the cooking Industry.
The top 5 ginger producing states in Nigeria are Kaduna state, Bauchi state, Benue State, Gombe State and Nasarawa.
In Nigeria, the average yield on a hectare of Farmland is about 13–27 metric tonnes in comparison to the global average of about 35–40 metric tonnes.
