120 youths, women benefit from NIHORT training on mushroom, ginger value chain in Delta

Nosa Akenzua, Asaba 

The National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) has commenced training programme for 120 youths and women on Mushroom and Ginger value chain in Delta.

The Executive Director, NIHORT, Dr. Abaalyomi Olaniyan  who spoke to Journalists on Wednesday at the training and empowerment in Kwale, Ndokwa West local Government Area of Delta State, said that mushroom and Ginger Cultivation and processing could create jobs and earn the country foreign exchange, adding that NIHORT had the mandate to conduct research into genetic improvement, Production processing, Utilization and marketing of fruits, vegetables, Ornaments plants and Spices including mushroom and Ginger.

According to him, mushroom is one of the important food items which plays significant role in human health nutrition and good source of protein vitamins and minerals, adding that mushroom cultivation can help reduce vulnerability to poverty and strengthen livelihood, it’s veritable cash crops with potential promise to generate foreign exchange.

He said: “Ginger on the other hand is one of the commercial crops produced in Nigeria that can serve as the major source of income to the country and the Nigeria’s Ginger varieties are acclaimed to be of superior quality and the outstanding flavour and a product of preference in international market”, disclosing that the present administration of Muhammad Buhari was committed to the capacity building as an avenue for tackling unemployment, hunger insecurity and poverty and enjoined the trainees to make use of the opportunities by paying special attention to the training.

The sponsor of the programme, Nicholas Ossai said that he would remain committed to giving effective representation to his constituency adding that over 400 persons were trained in 2018 on plantains and pineapple value Chain in the State as it will drastically change the process of waiting for White Collar Jobs.