CHALLENGES OF COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF GINGER, GARLIC AND TURMERIC IN BAYELSA AND RIVERS STATES OF NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA

The study researched the challenges of commercial production of ginger, garlic and turmeric in selected parts of Bayelsa and Rivers States of Southern Nigeria. It involved the use of a questionnaire in generating the data for analysis. Four (4) towns were selected from the two states. From the research, a number of challenges were identified, among which were “ignorance of the farmers on the viability and profitability of these crops, preservation process, marketing of the products, lack of attention given to these crops by other farmers, socio-economic challenges, the climatic condition of the study area, and inaccessibility to loan facilities and extension services. These crops have a lot of economic benefits as well as health benefits. SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) was used to analyze the data. The conditions of the study area are suitable for planting these crops based on the following standard parameters: namely, surface pressure, air temperature, relative humidity, sea surface temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation. One could really wonder why these crops are not produced commercially, notwithstanding their numerous health benefits and commercial value. There should a serious sensitization exercises to educate farmers and others on the production of garlic, ginger, and turmeric. There should be accessibility to loan facilities and specialized trainings on appropriate farming methods and support to interested farmers would bridge this gap of low commercial production of these lucrative spicy crops contribute immensely to the economy of the communities, states, and the nation at large.