Ginger prices surge in Kadjebi as Disease impact continues to affect production
Traders and farmers in the Kadjebi District of the Oti Region have expressed concern over the rising cost of ginger, attributing the increase to the lingering effects of a fungal disease that devastated farms in the area several years ago.
The concerns emerged during a market survey conducted by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at the Kadjebi Market on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Gifty Amegbletor, a ginger trader from Bisease, a farming community in the district, described the current price of ginger as a major challenge for both traders and consumers.
According to her, a bag of ginger now sells for about GH¢5,000, making it increasingly difficult for traders to recover their investment and make reasonable profits.
“The price keeps increasing, but customers are unwilling to buy at higher rates. Sometimes we struggle to make any meaningful profit after transporting and selling the produce,” she said.
She attributed the sharp rise in prices to the fungal disease outbreak that destroyed large portions of ginger farms in the district about three years ago, resulting in a significant drop in production levels.
Amegbletor noted that many farmers who suffered heavy financial losses during the outbreak have either scaled down their operations or abandoned ginger cultivation entirely.
Another trader, Akosua Nyavor, said the escalating prices have reduced customer patronage, as many consumers can no longer afford to purchase ginger in the quantities they previously did.
“The demand is still there, but many customers cannot afford the quantities they used to buy. This affects our sales and income,” she explained.
Farmers have also raised concerns about the long-term impact of the disease on the district’s ginger industry.
James Agyemang, a farmer from Okanta, said the outbreak discouraged many young people from investing in ginger production.
“The disease destroyed several farms and caused huge financial losses. Many young people who invested in ginger farming have switched to other crops because they are afraid of losing their investments again,” he said.
He added that the disease has not been fully eradicated and continues to pose a threat to ginger farms in the area, affecting confidence among producers.
Mr. Agyemang appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and agricultural research institutions to intensify efforts to identify a lasting solution to the disease and provide farmers with disease-resistant planting materials.
Consumers also expressed concern over the rising prices, noting that ginger remains an important ingredient for cooking and traditional medicinal purposes in many households.
They called on authorities to support farmers to increase production and stabilise prices to make the commodity more affordable.
Despite the challenges, traders and farmers remain hopeful that with the necessary technical assistance and government intervention, ginger production in the district can recover, leading to improved supply and lower prices in the future.
A Ghana News Agency report published on October 9, 2023, highlighted the outbreak of a strange disease that destroyed ginger farms in the Kadjebi District. At the time, the then District Director of Agriculture, Besa Akpalu, confirmed the outbreak and disclosed that samples of affected plants and rhizomes had been sent to the Pokuase Agricultural Research Centre for laboratory analysis to determine the exact cause of the disease.
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