Nigeria’s ambition to expand non-oil exports has suffered a major setback after the country’s ginger export earnings plunged from N26.2 billion in 2023 to zero by the end of 2025. Once one of Africa’s strongest agricultural export commodities, Nigerian ginger has virtually disappeared from international markets as farmers and exporters battle a devastating fungal blight disease and sharply rising production costs. The crisis has not only reduced output but also pushed local prices beyond what global buyers are willing to pay.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that ginger export revenue dropped from N6.28 billion in 2024 to zero in 2025. Industry players say domestic ginger prices soared to as much as N15.2 million per tonne, equivalent to about $10,000, far above the international market price of around $2,000 per tonne. The price disparity made exports commercially unviable, forcing exporters to redirect available supplies to the local market where demand remains strong and profit margins are higher.
According to exporters, the root of the crisis lies in the persistent ginger blight disease that has ravaged farms since 2023. The outbreak wiped out an estimated 90 percent of production in some farming communities, disrupting supply chains and weakening Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global market. Industry experts noted that many exporters have not shipped ginger abroad since early 2023 as shrinking harvests and escalating costs continue to erode profitability. Despite a slight recovery in production, output remains significantly below historical levels.
The impact on production has been severe. Nigeria, Africa’s largest ginger producer, recorded output of more than 751,000 metric tonnes in 2022 before production collapsed to about 67,600 metric tonnes in 2023 following the disease outbreak. Although production recovered to nearly 160,000 metric tonnes in 2024, it remains far below previous highs. Beyond disease outbreaks, insecurity in farming communities, expensive fertilisers, rising energy costs, and limited access to quality planting materials have compounded the challenges facing growers across major ginger-producing states.
As preparations begin for the 2026 planting season, stakeholders are calling for urgent government intervention to prevent a deeper crisis. Farmers say the price of ginger seeds has surged dramatically, with a 100kg bag now selling for about N560,000 in some markets, forcing many producers to scale down operations or switch to other crops entirely. Industry leaders argue that subsidising improved seeds and supporting farmers with affordable inputs could boost production, lower local prices, restore export competitiveness, and help Nigeria reclaim its position as a major player in the global ginger market.
source: Business day