The youth wing of the Asholio Development Association (ADA) of Moro’a Chiefdom in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna state has taken steps to promote the adoption of modern techniques in the cultivation of ginger.

The national youth leader, Laah Bainta, explained that the move was to prevent the outbreak of fungal infection and improve yield for maximum benefits and returns on investments.

Mr Bainta stated this on Saturday in Manchok during a maiden seminar tagged “Managing Ginger Diseases and Farming Methodology for the Season.”

The seminar was organised by the association to enlighten and educate farmers and promote the adoption of modern techniques in ginger cultivation among youths and other farmers in the community.

He said that rather than waiting on government interventions, it was time for farmers to take the needed steps and drive solutions to challenges in agricultural production.

The youth leader recalled that ginger farmers in the southern part of Kaduna State have suffered a huge setback during the 2023 farming season due to the outbreak of fungi pathogen infections.

He explained that the outbreak destroyed over 2,500 hectares of ginger farms, estimated at over N10 billion, across the seven local government areas of southern Kaduna.

The youth leader lamented that a similar disease had led to the near extinction of cocoyam in the area, stressing the need for local solutions to the problem.

“This seminar is more of a solution-driven than theoretical approach.

“We have made a lot of mistakes in the past by waiting on the government to organise programmes like this.

“This waiting has led to the near extinction of crops like cocoyam in our communities.

“The government must not do everything for us. One of our visions as leaders of the ADA youth wing is value orientation amongst the youth, including farmers amongst us,” he said.

Earlier, the chief host and president of ADA, Dr Jolly Laah, commended the youth leader for the initiative.

Mr Laah called for stronger synergy among ginger farmers, research institutes and government agencies to address challenges affecting ginger cultivation and harvest in the area.

He also suggested the formulation of a steering committee after the seminar, comprising youths, experts, and ginger farmers.

He explained that the committee should promote integrated supervision of ginger farms to promote the adoption of modern techniques and tackle outbreaks of diseases.

The resource person, Markus Magaji, harped on monitoring and evaluation for early detection and management of visible anomalies in ginger farms.

Mr Magaji, who is the chief executive officer of Rimma Guarantee Network Company Ltd., Kaduna, encouraged ginger farmers to adopt the use of anti-fungi and other chemicals in their farming preparations.

He argued that non-fumigation of ginger farms before cultivation was partly responsible for the fungi infections being experienced in ginger farms in the area. 

(NAN)