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An Overview
Ginger Research Programme of the Institute is charged with the responsibility to
carry out research on ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc). The Programme
has a unique feature of handling a crop that is basically not consumed directly
as food but rather finds its use as a major commodity in the culinary, food
beverage, medicinal and confectionary industries.
Ginger Programme of the National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike has the
mandate to:
·
Develop high yielding and disease resistant ginger varieties that can compete
favourably in terms of quality in international market.
·
Remove drudgery in ginger production through mechanization of the production
process.
·
Develop affordable means of storing and processing ginger without compromising
its quality.
·
Develop efficient marketing channels for ginger in Nigeria.
Sequel to this mandate, the Programme commenced research on ginger in 1982. The
first national ginger workshop was held in Nigeria in October, 1988 at NRCRI,
Umudike. The outcome of research in this programme has generated a lot of
interest in ginger cultivation and helped to make Nigeria an important producer,
consumer and exporter of ginger globally. According to the latest records from
FAO, Nigeria’s harvested area for ginger is 44,313ha, producing about 152,106
tons in 2009.
In nearly a century of
ginger production Nigerian farmers have relied mostly on two cultivars namely
UG1 (Yellow ginger “Tafin giwa”) and UG2 (Black ginger “Yatsun biri”). Based on
cursory estimates, about 70% of production is devoted to UGI while 30% is
devoted to UG2.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
Ginger Research Programme of the Institute has made some landmark achievements
in its research activities. Notable among these achievements includes the
development of ginger production technology packages for different
agroecological zones in Nigeria. These technologies are;
1. Development and fabrication of ginger splitting machine: This
technology developed in 1998 has the advantage of splitting about 5000kg of
ginger rhizome/hour and reduces drudgery involved in splitting ginger for
drying.
2. Development of ginger washing machine. This machine washes
ginger rhizomes before splitting thus improving the quality of processed
products.
3. Development of efficient mulch material: Mulching in ginger
production is a must for optimum production. Multipurpose tree pruning, rice
mill waste are identified as effective mulching material, applied at planting.
This Technology developed in NRCRI has the advantage of improving soil resource
base for increased yield and efficient weed suppression.
4. Development of optimum rhizome sett size for seed and ware ginger
production: Seed ginger production requires sett size of 15-20g whereas
ware ginger production requires sett size of 21 – 35g for optimum production of
ginger. This has the advantage of avoiding waste of planting material. This
technology has been released to farmers for use.
5. Development of optimum planting depth for ginger production:
Optimum depth of planting for sustainable yield and performance of ginger has
been certified to be 10cm.
6. Development of compatible crop mixtures with ginger:
Intercropping ginger with soybean and okra has been identified to be compatible
to fit into the Farming Systems of farmers especially in South Eastern Nigeria.
The crops should be planted simultaneously thereby giving the farmer the choice
of growing more crops in the field and maximizing the use of land and its
resources.
7. Use of organic manure in ginger production: This emphasizes
the application of organic manures such as poultry cropping and rice mill waste
at seed bed preparation for ginger production. This has the advantage of better
crop establishment, high yield, and improvement in the maintenance of soil
resource base as well as reduction in storage loss.
8. Establishment of optimum level of micro-nutrient and NPK
fertilizers for economic ginger production: Foliar application of 3kg/ha
Agrolyzer Micronutrient at 8 WAP and 300kg/ha of NPK fertilizer have been
identified to give better and economic yield performance.
9. New products developed from ginger rhizome: Value addition
to ginger rhizome by the development of some ginger-based recipes such as ginger
drink, ginger powder, ginger bread biscuits, cookies etc.
Current
Crop Yield per Hectare
UG I – 12 – 15t/ha
UG II – 9 – 11t/ha
Total
Annual Crop Production
2009 - 152,106 tons
Research Staff Profile
1.
Dr C. O. Amadi
Ph.D Plant breeding and Genetics
Asst. Director/Co-ordinator
E-mail: okeyamadi2003@yahoo,com
Current Research Activity
i.
Co-ordination of Research Activities on Ginger in Nigeria.
ii. Mutation breeding in ginger
iii. Ginger biotechnology
iv.
Ginger germplasm collection and management
v.
Flowering and fruiting studies
2.
Nwaogu, E. N.
M.Sc. (Soil Science)
Principal Research Officer
Email: edichek_2007@yahoo.com
Current
Research Activities;
Development of improved agronomic packages for enhanced ginger production:
(i)
Integration of alley cropping technique in ginger production for efficient
nutrient
utilization, weed and disease control and increased rhizome yield.
(ii) Determination of amount of shading permissible for optimum ginger
productivity
under oil palm and rubber plantation environments in Nigeria.
(iii) Use of leguminous and/or low-growing cover crops grown in-situ as live
mulch in
ginger production.
(iv) Assessment of the residual effects of selected organic manure application
on soil
resource base and productivity of ginger-based systems in Nigeria.
(v) Assessment of the effect of source and time of organic manure application
on the
dynamics and uptake of N and productivity of ginger in the Savanna.
(vi) Influence of leguminous cover crops planted in rotation and fertilizer N on
soil
quality and productivity of ginger in a tropical rainforest of south
eastern Nigeria.
(vii) Effect of time of Soybean introduction in ginger-based system on the
productivity of the component crops in the Guinea Savanna.
3.
Dr Ewuziem, J. E
Ph.D (Agric. Economics)
Senior Research Officer
Email:
juziem2000@yahoo.com
Current Research Activities
i.
Economic evaluation of ginger production at Umudike in Rainforest Zone and Maro
in Savanah zone of Nigeria.
ii. Assessment of the current Conduct, structure and performance of
ginger markets in Nigeria
iii. Motivation of farmers in ginger production through seminars,
workshops, talk shows, jingles, news talk aimed at revitalizing of interest in
ginger production among rural farmers.
4.
Ebeniro, C. N. (Mrs.)
Msc
(Agronomy)
Research Officer I
Email:
christyebeniro@yahoo.com
Current
Research Activities
Investigating
into agronomic practices that enhance ginger production in Nigeria:
i.
Assessment of response of ginger to Lime in an Ultisols of Southeastern Nigeria;
the effect of poultry manure and palm bunch ash on the field
ii. Performances of ginger in Southeastern Nigeria and; collaborative
studies on the compactability of Sweetpotato and garden egg intercrop in Umudike;
iii. Effect of Agrolyzer on egusi/maize/cassava intercrop in south
eastern Nigeria.
5. Danbaba, A.K
M.Sc (Genetics and Plant Breeding)
Research Officer I
Email: danbabaanthony@yahoo.com
Current Research Activities
i.
Yield and yield components of ginger grown at Umudike in South Eastern Nigeria
and their relationship;
ii. Genetic variability studies in Ginger accessions,
iii. Mutagenesis in ginger by gamma radiations.
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