Expert urges Bauchi farmers to embrace ginger cultivation
By Ahmed Ahmed
An agronomist, Dr Rashida Bala has advised farmers in Bauchi State to embrace ginger cultivation to improve their economic and social status.
She said this in an interview with journalists on Tuesday in Bauchi.Bala said recent studies and field trials indicated that the state possesses the right soil and climatic conditions for profitable ginger cultivation.
She said the development followed extensive experiments and the results exceeded expectations.
“Traditionally, ginger is being associated with a particular state but practical trials in Bauchi have clearly disproved that notion.
“We went beyond research papers, we planted ginger here, harvested it, and the yields impressive.
“Among all the crops we tested, ginger proved to be one of the most profitable,” she said.
According to Bala, ginger is relatively easy to manage and offers higher economic returns compared to other cash crops being cultivated by local farmers.
She urged farmers to diversify their productions rather than relying on traditional practices, stressing that ginger crops enjoy high local and international demand.
The expert warned that ginger could be infested by pests and diseases such as nematodes, leaf-eating insects, and fungal infections, especially during extended dry season or lack of land rotation.
The challenges, she said, could be controlled through the application of healthy seed rhizomes, proper crop rotation and good field management.“Ginger naturally suppresses weeds due to its dense growth pattern.
”Bala further advised youths to embrace agriculture as a viable business, describing it as a reliable pathway to wealth creation.
