PRICE AND OUTPUT TREND OF GINGER IN NIGERIA FOR THE PERIOD 1990 – 2020

Abstract

The study analyzed the price and output trend of ginger in Nigeria for the period 1990 – 2020.  The study utilized secondary data and were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as means frequency distribution, percentages, standard deviation and graph. The result shows that ginger has an all-time maximum output of 927,041 Metric tonne (MT) and an all-time minimum output of 420,000 MT over the considered time period. The all-time minimum price was ₦145/kg while the maximum price was ₦690.50/kg. The results indicate high variability in ginger output and price with standard deviation of 263,319 MT and ₦183.2479/kg, respectively. The result further revealed three major periods for Nigerian ginger production over the past 20 years. The first was from 2000-2006, characterized with a high area of ginger cultivation, averaging 169,857 (ha) or 51.3% of the global total, but a low yield, at 6,186 MT/ha. The second period ran from 2007-2014, first with a jump in yields to an average of 21,017 MT/ha from 2007-2010 and a decline in area harvested, to just 52,256 hectares, or 20.5% of the world total. This was followed by a brief spike in yields to 54,085 MT/ha in 2011 and rise in area harvested to 2013, before a reversion for both closer to 2007-2010 levels. The third period from 2015 saw yields catching up more sustainably to Asian levels, reaching 82,138 MT/ha as of 2019, while area harvested stabilized, and stood at 80,104 ha in 2019 or 21.8 of the global total. From this study, it can be concluded that Nigeria has comparative advantages in growing ginger, which is noticeable with the geographical features and well-adapted local varieties. The trend of enormous growth in ginger production and its export indicates that ginger production and trade could be a potential enterprise contributing to the national economy. It is recommended to focus on enhancing ginger productivity by providing training and extension services to farmers, efficient pricing system, establishing ginger processing units, easy and reliable certification within the country, and enhancing diplomatic relations for easy market accessibility for strengthening the ginger sub-sector.