Welcome to Ginger Value Chain Blog

This is Ginger Value chain of the Federal Department of Agriculture, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development  (FMARD). Ginger Value Chain was created alongside others crops in January 2013. It is all about Ginger as a crop, awareness on the domestic, pharmaceutical and health benefits of ginger, ginger production, processing , packaging , marketing and lots more.............

Fresh Ginger Rhizomes

What do you call ginger?

Ginger names in 3 Major Nigeria Languages 

Chitta in Hausa

Ose-ala or Osechukwu in Igbo

Ata'le in Yoruba

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)  is a monocotyledonous crop plant which produces rhizomes. The rhizomes is not a true root as in the case with cassava but a modified underground stem. It takes its name from the Sanskrit word stringa-vera, which means "with a body like a horn" as in antlers.  
Ginger is a root crop with characteristic pungent taste and pleasant aroma used in the production of various pharmaceutical products, beverages, confectioneries and cosmetics. There is huge demand for Nigeria Ginger in Europe, North America, Asia, US, Canada and Saudi Arabia. This is due to fact that the quality of fresh Ginger produce in Nigeria is the best in the world and is highly valued for its aroma; pungency, high oil and oleoresin content.

Nigeria has moved up from 6^th position to number 4^th in the world Ginger production with India, China and Nepal leading. It is an important export crop in Nigeria. 



         Ginger plant with flower

 





 

















Ginger produces clusters of white and pink flower buds that bloom into yellow  flowers. Because of its aesthetic appeal and adaptation to warm climates, ginger is often used as landscaping around tropical homes.  






Varieties of ginger

Two varieties of ginger are popularly known grown in Nigeria which are highly rated for their oil and Oleoresin. These are:

• Yellow ginger  (Taffin Giwa) and 

• Black ginger (Yaltsun Biri). 

How to Enjoy Ginger

 

Whether it's fresh, powdered, pickled, or candied, ginger can be used in all types of cuisines and prepared in a variety of ways.

Fighting a cold? Take a decent-sized chunk and grate a one-inch piece of peeled ginger. Combine it with six cups of boiling water, the juice of one lemon and about 1/3 of a cup of high-quality honey, and stir it all up. You can also add in a couple of your favorite tea bags if you want. Sip this zesty tincture the next time you're curled up on the couch with a case of the sniffles.

         

               A Few Quick Serving Ideas

• Turn up the heat while cooling off by making ginger lemonade. Simply combine freshly grated ginger, lemon juice, cane juice or honey and water.
• Add extra inspiration to your rice side dishes by sprinkling grated ginger, sesame seeds and nori strips on top.
• Combine ginger, soy sauce, olive oil and garlic to make a wonderful salad dressing.
• Add ginger and orange juice to puréed sweet potatoes.
• Add grated ginger to your favorite stuffing for baked apples.
• Spice up your healthy sautéed vegetables by adding freshly minced ginger.

Domestic and Industrial Uses of Ginger
 

Generally, ginger is highly valued in industries, pharmaceutical and in the confectioneries. The domestic and industrial uses of ginger include:

•   Ginger is used as spice in food; fresh and powdered ginger can be used in preparing pepper soup, different kinds of soups and stew.

•   It is used in brewing ginger drinks, making ginger ale, ginger bread, biscuits and other beverages.

Ginger beer

                            

Ginger snacks

•   It has the ability to stimulate the circulatory system which helps in bringing an increased flow of blood to the surface of the skin; this singular quality makes ginger a very important herbal remedy for the treatment of chilblains and impaired circulation along the hands and feet of patients.

•   It is effective in controlling elevated or high blood pressure.

•   Herbal remedies made from the ginger have warming and soothing effects which help in alleviating persistent coughs, all kinds of colds, flu and other related problems of the respiratory system.

•   The Chinese system of medicine suggests the use of fresh ginger for the treatment of fevers, headache, pains and discomfort of aching muscles in the body. Compressed ginger is also used for this purpose.

•   It is used also in the treatment of joint stiffness, neuralgia in different parts of the body and kidney stone.

•   The intestines are invigorated by herbal remedies made from ginger. It also helps in the stimulation of a weak appetite as well as enhances the process of digestion. Stagnation of food particles in the intestinal tract and the consequent accumulation of metabolic toxins can be cleared away using herbal remedies made from ginger.

•   Ability of the ginger to alleviate nausea and vomiting is famous; such sensations are easily dispensed with when the ginger remedies are used by the affected individuals.

•   In women, menstruation is promoted by ginger and the ginger remedies are useful in dealing with various disorders affecting the uterus and also effective in alleviating delayed or scanty periods as well as blood clots associated with the menstrual cycle.

       Opportunities in Ginger Production

•  Ginger commands profitable returns because it is a high- value export crop

• There is a high demand for ginger production because of its numerous usages

• The export potential is not fully expolred

• Nigeria has conducive weather and enough arable land favourable for commercial production of ginger

• In terms of value addition, processing industries are still very few hence huge opportunities abound

• Considering its nutritional and health benefits,ginger is a highly marketable crop.