Ginger farmers in the Kadjebi District of the Oti Region have recorded multiple losses, as an unidentified disease suspected to be fungal infection invades their farms leaving them with apprehension and hopelessness.
The disease, which forces the ginger plant to turn yellowish and destroys the rhizomes, causes the seed to rot.
The disease, which emerged and destroyed crops in the district during the 2023 and 2024 crop seasons still lingers on without answers from authorities and food research institutions.
The Ghana News Agency’s (GNA) follow-up visit to some of the affected farms, of which an earlier report was captioned “Strange disease destroys ginger farms in Kadjebi District” dated October 9, 2023, indicated that there had been improvement, as the disease continued to ravage farms.
Mr Tsadenu Mutakilu, the Assemblyman for Obuase/Butabe Electoral Area, whose two-acre ginger farm had been destroyed by the disease in the 2023 crop season, told GNA that he could only manage to plant an acre during the 2024 season, but that too was destroyed by the disease.
“This year, we are finding it difficult to get seedlings as the disease has destroyed all farms”. Most of the farmers are saying they are not going to plant,” he said.
Mr Tsadenu said the 70Kg Ginger rhizomes which used to sale at GH₵120.00 is now sold at GH₵1,700.00 per bag because the seeds had become scarce.
Mr Mensah Gabriel, another farmer shared the same problem with the GNA, saying he was contemplating about leaving for Accra to search for work, as ginger farming had tumbled down.
Mr Godwin Odey, a Trader, said the price per bag was now GH₵1,700.00 and due to the scarcity, the farmers now decide to give their own prices.
Ms Esenam Amegatse, another trader testified that the price of ginger which should have been GH₵500.00 per bag was currently being sold at GH₵1,700.00 due to its scarcity.
She appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to find a lasting solution to the problem to keep them in business.
Mr Rashad Shaibu, the Kadjebi District Director of the Department of Food and Agriculture had confirmed the situation.
He said the Pokuase Agricultural Research Centre recommended Crop Rotation, to allow the land where the Ginger farmers planted earlier to lay fallow for some time and grow different crops.
He said the Centre also recommended the use of different Chemicals for ginger planting.
Mr Shaibu added that a committee had been set-up to help implement the recommendations and that a Demonstration farm would be established this crop season to see to the success or otherwise of the recommendations.
By Daniel Agbesi Latsu, GNA
