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Luckily, Nigeria is one of the nations of the world that grow ginger on a large scale.
In fact, Nigeria began cultivating ginger in the southern Zaria region, the Jemma federated district, and the surrounding Plateau State regions in 1927. It has grown to be a significant Nigerian export.
Nigeria is Africa’s top exporter of ginger. Only 7.2% of the crop, both in ground and non-ground forms, is exported from the nation. In terms of global ginger production, Nigeria is now ranked fourth.
Experts claim that Nigerian ginger is prized for its superior quality and therapeutic value on the global market. Nigerian ginger products stand out for their aroma, pungency, and high oil and oleoresin concentration.
Ginger has a lot of health benefits. When eaten, ginger roots, a perennial crop from the Zingiberaceae family, provide both flavor and health benefits. The root crop can also be used by people to make cosmetics and alcohol.
How To Grow Ginger In Nigeria
The actions that must be done in order to grow ginger in Nigeria are detailed below.
1) To facilitate crop harvesting, the land ought to be adequately plowed. Create beds that are at least 50 cm apart, 15 cm high, and 1 meter in width. A 40-centimeter-wide ridge should be employed for irrigated cultivation.
2) Pasteurized animal manure (waste from chickens, cattle, pigs, and other animals) or composted manure can be added to the soil to improve it.
3) Ginger should be grown because it has yellowish-brown skin and is free of pests and diseases. Keep fresh ginger that hasn’t yet formed a thick, golden-brownish exterior in direct sunshine for three to seven days to encourage the development of old skin.
4) Although cutting them into pieces is preferred, you can plant them whole. The rhizome serves as the root for the ginger plant, and additional roots will grow from it.
5) The rhizome should be cut 2-3 weeks prior to planting in sections. At least one eye and 4-6g of weight must be present in each cut-off section. It can be customized, with a cut range of 1-3 inches. Each chopped piece is referred to as a “sett.”
6) A hole is dug before each set of ginger rhizomes is planted. At least 8 centimeters should be dug out of the ground. The bud in the soil of each sett should face upward. The space between each set and the next should be 30 cm. Each new ginger plant appears from a set.
Pests And Diseases of Ginger in Nigeria
Snails, mites, borers, and nematodes are a few of the pests that commonly attack ginger plants. Maintaining cleanliness on your ginger farm is essential for pest management. Mite control may involve the use of insecticides.
If a borer threatens your ginger plant, you should sprout the affected shoots, split the shoot in half, and then remove and destroy the caterpillar. Regular agricultural surveillance and hygiene are necessary for pest management.
Among the ailments that hurt ginger are rust, damping off, and soft rot. By manual extraction, these diseases can be kept from spreading. Damaged clumps along the soil surrounding the rhizome should be carefully removed in order to stop the disease’s spread.
Additionally, you could use chemicals. Trichoderma can be applied both at the time of planting and subsequently if necessary. A restricted application of Bordeaux mixture (1%) can be required if your field is prone to diseases.
Conclusion
If you are in Nigeria and have always wished to grow ginger, your dream has come true. Go ahead and start right away because ginger performs very well on Nigerian soil.
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