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By Mikailu Abubakar, Lukman Isah
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), under the leadership of its Director-General/CEO, Prof. Nnanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso, hosted an impactful Investors Forum and Training Workshop on Climate-Smart Ginger Sack Farming on July 30, 2025, at the Federal Secretariat, Kawo, Kaduna State.
The event brought together investors, smallholder farmers, representatives of government agencies, private sector stakeholders, resource persons, and the media in a collaborative effort to explore innovative agricultural practices that support Nigeria’s drive for economic diversification, food security, and sustainable development.
In his keynote address, Prof. Ike-Muonso, Represented by the Overseeing Director State Industrial Extension Service Developmen, Dr. Mrs Edith Obi welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of embracing climate-resilient farming practices in response to the increasing threats posed by climate change and pest outbreaks on agricultural productivity.
Climate-smart ginger sack farming is a solution that optimizes land use, conserves soil moisture, mitigates pest risks, and allows ginger cultivation even in areas with limited land availability, he stated.
Despite Nigeria’s position as one of the top producers of ginger globally, the RMRDC boss lamented the low level of value addition, inadequate investment, and reliance on exporting unprocessed ginger rhizomes, which hinder the full realization of the crop’s potential. He noted that ginger remains a high-value commodity with significant health, nutritional, and industrial uses, particularly in the pharmaceutical and food sectors.
Prof. Ike-Muonso called on investors and agribusinesses to tap into the vast opportunities within the ginger value chain from processing into powder, oil, and extracts to establishing strong linkages with both local and international markets.
“Your investment will not only yield profitable returns but will contribute significantly to import substitution, economic diversification, and rural development in line with Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he affirmed.
The training component of the workshop featured practical sessions on sack farming techniques, pest control strategies, soil management, and post-harvest handling, led by seasoned experts and agricultural innovators. Farmers and participants expressed satisfaction with the knowledge shared and pledged to replicate the model in their respective communities.
As the apex agency tasked with promoting the development and optimal utilization of Nigeria’s raw materials, RMRDC reaffirmed its commitment to driving innovations, facilitating partnerships, and enhancing farmer capacities to ensure agriculture becomes a profitable and industrially strategic venture.
The event concluded with a resounding call for collaboration among stakeholders to build a climate-smart, sustainable, and industrially vibrant Nigeria.
