Agriculture key to economic diversification — NGAN
By Dave Okpogadie, Asaba
National Ginger Associations of Nigeria (NGAN) has hinted that agriculture was one of the ways of diversifying the nation’s economy, saying, if well harnessed, ginger cultivation could be one of the best ways of achieving that.
Chairman of NGAN, Delta State Chapter, Pastor Harrison Opia, made this known in his welcome address during the inauguration of the South-South Zone of NGAN, held in Asaba.
He enumerated the numerous benefits of ginger to include health boosting as well as adding more revenue to the national economic growth.
Pastor Opia noted that ginger crop helps in the relief of digestive issues, relief of tooth ache, fights colds and flu, acts as natural anti-inflammation, promotes detoxification and improves blood circulation.
The Chairman also disclosed that the Association has over 8000 hectres of land for farming at different locations in Delta state with Rivers having 5000 and Edo state 4000 to support the growth and sustenance of the crop.
He corrected the errorneous view that ginger can only do well in the northern part of Nigeria, saying the soil test and analysis carried out revealed that Southern soil was suitable for the growth of ginger, just as he noted that the group had engaged the services of real sector finance company to enhance optimum performance in ginger cultivation.
Pastor Harrison explained further that agriculture was one of the ways of diversifying the nation’s economy, saying, if well harnessed, ginger cultivation could be one of the best ways of achieving that.
He added that ginger provides competition to the crude oil on the international market as a gold cash crop with high revenue .
The Delta State governor, sen. Ifeanyi Okowa who was represented by the permanent secretary, ministry of agriculture, Mr. Ben Agamah said, the State Government was in support of NGAN and would work in synergy with the association because the state government would always place high premium on agriculture because of its importance to the well being of any society.
