Nigeria has developed ginger planting materials with improved resistance to fungal attacks as the country intensifies efforts to revive its $730 million ginger industry, which has suffered substantial production losses and declining export earnings following devastating disease outbreaks.
The development was announced by the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) as part of efforts to restore ginger production, rebuild farmers’ livelihoods and strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global agricultural market. The agency is also developing a biological spray, known as a biofungicide, to help control the disease affecting ginger farms. <Cite refs={[“turn375167search0″,”turn375167search1”]}/>
Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NBRDA, disclosed the development during the 60th Annual Conference and Diamond Jubilee of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria in Abuja.
According to Mustapha, combining improved planting materials with appropriate crop protection measures could help rebuild production, provided the technologies are successfully tested under field conditions and supported by farmer training.
The initiative comes after a devastating ginger blight outbreak in 2023 caused widespread losses among farmers, particularly in Kaduna State, one of Nigeria’s major ginger-producing areas. The outbreak disrupted production, reduced export earnings and forced some farmers to abandon cultivation.
The industry was valued at approximately $730 million before the crisis. Figures cited by the agency indicate that ginger farmers lost about ₦12 billion in 2023, while export earnings declined by 74 per cent, from ₦23.76 billion in the first nine months of 2023 to ₦6.28 billion during the corresponding period in 2024.
Reports in 2026 also indicated that Nigeria recorded no ginger exports in 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, highlighting the severity of the disruption facing the sector. <Cite refs={[“turn375167search0″,”turn375167search1”]}/>
The newly developed planting materials could help address one of the industry’s most significant challenges by improving crop resilience and supporting more reliable harvests. If successfully validated and made accessible to farmers, the innovation could contribute to restoring production, rebuilding export capacity and protecting livelihoods across the agricultural value chain.
For smallholder farmers and agribusinesses, the recovery of ginger production could create opportunities in seed multiplication, cultivation, processing, transportation, storage and export. A stronger ginger industry could also improve access to raw materials for processors and help businesses reconnect with domestic and international markets.
However, the agency has emphasised that field validation, effective distribution and farmer training will be essential before the new planting materials can deliver benefits at scale.
Beyond ginger, Mustapha highlighted the potential of agricultural biotechnology to improve domestic food production and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports. He pointed to progress in cowpea technology and opportunities to strengthen maize production, noting that improved seed systems, farmer education and sustained investment would be necessary to achieve these objectives.
Meanwhile, Prof. Jude Mbanasor, National President of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria, called for increased investment in agricultural research, extension services and infrastructure to support the adoption of new technologies.
He also emphasised the need for more accessible financing for farmers and agribusinesses, alongside improvements in irrigation, rural roads, storage and processing facilities. Stronger collaboration among government institutions, research organisations, farmers and private-sector stakeholders, he said, would be critical to translating scientific innovations into practical results.
Nigeria’s efforts to revive its ginger industry will therefore depend on more than the development of disease-resistant planting materials. Farmers will also need access to improved seeds, affordable financing, technical support and dependable markets to restore production and build resilience against future outbreaks.
If successfully validated and deployed on a wider scale, the new planting materials and proposed biofungicide could help rebuild Nigeria’s ginger industry, restore export opportunities and support the livelihoods of farmers and businesses that depend on the crop.
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