Senator Katung empowers Farmers With Slicing Machines

Worried by the lack of a ginger value chain in Kaduna South Senatorial District, the Senator representing the area, Sunday Marshall Katung, has empowered over 150 persons across the senatorial district with cash and slicing machines to boost production. The event, organized by the Senator’s office in collaboration with the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, […]

Worried by the lack of a ginger value chain in Kaduna South Senatorial District, the Senator representing the area, Sunday Marshall Katung, has empowered over 150 persons across the senatorial district with cash and slicing machines to boost production.

The event, organized by the Senator’s office in collaboration with the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, also trained participants on modern ginger processing techniques to be deployed within the communities.

Represented by the former Council Chairman of Zango Kataf Local Government Area, Mr. Christopher Haruna, Katung explained that the initiative was aimed at improving the quality and adding value to ginger production in the region.

He urged participants to make the most of the training, adding that each of them would receive cash support of fifty thousand naira, and groups of ten would receive one ginger slicing machine for free.

While soliciting support and prayers from his constituents, the Senator pledged to continue enacting laws and supporting government policies that will positively impact their lives.

Earlier, the Executive Director of the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, represented by Assistant Director Engineer Joseph Adebija, assured that they would continue to support ginger farmers with technical knowledge to boost ginger production and processing in Southern Kaduna.

Presenting a paper on ginger farming business, global competitiveness, and the value of Nigerian ginger varieties, the Provost of Kaduna State University, Kafanchan Campus, Professor Ibrahim Abbas Sodangi, advised ginger farmers against rushing to sell their produce immediately after harvest, suggesting that they explore other means of raising money to meet their immediate needs.

Sodangi noted that Nigeria’s ginger is in high demand globally, although the sector faces numerous challenges, including poor soil fertility, shortage of improved seeds, substandard agronomic practices, pest and disease issues, poor post-harvest handling and processing, and low technological usage.

He emphasized that ginger farmers suffer the most due to a lack of knowledge and encouraged those present to share their training with others in their communities.

Also, a legislative aide to the Senator, Barr. Gambo Zango, said participants were carefully selected from the eight local government areas that make up the senatorial district.

Some of the participants in an interview, expressed appreciation to the Senator for the intervention, noting that the training has further exposed them to important insights in ginger farming and processing.