• Federal and Kaduna State governments to invest $29.5 million in ginger hub

• Facility aims to boost processing capacity and reduce post-harvest losses

• Kaduna already accounts for over 75% of Nigeria’s ginger output

Nigeria is moving to establish a large-scale ginger production and processing hub in Kachia, a local government area in Kaduna State, in a bid to expand value addition in one of its key agricultural exports.

The project, announced on Feb. 23 by Sunday Katung, the senator representing Kaduna South, will mobilize 40 billion naira, about $29.5 million. The investment will be co-financed equally by the federal government and the Kaduna State government.

According to local media reports, the facility is expected to become Africa’s largest ginger processing hub once completed. While detailed specifications have not yet been disclosed, the project is designed to increase output, cut post-harvest losses and strengthen export value through processing rather than raw shipments.

Mr. Katung said the initiative goes beyond ginger production, framing it as a catalyst for rural industrialization, job creation and wealth generation in farming communities. He said farmers would shift from selling raw produce to processing and exporting higher-value products.

Trade Map data show that Nigeria exported an average of 33,824 tons of raw ginger annually between 2021 and 2023, valued at about $18.1 million.

Kaduna State already dominates Nigeria’s ginger sector. In 2024, the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services estimated national ginger output at 727,633 tons, with 75.54% produced in Kaduna.

Stéphanas Assocle