An annual meet of the Ginger Growers’ Association has urged the State and Union governments to waive the interest on agriculture loans taken by farmers for ginger cultivation.
A resolution passed here on Thursday said that thousands of farmers in the State had shifted to ginger cultivation on rented lands in other States after the price of the produce reached an all-time high, ₹8,000 a bag (60 kg) four years ago. The cost of production of ginger on an acre of land is close to ₹5 lakh. But the price of the produce has declined to ₹900 a bag now.
Problems
The poor price prevailing for the past three years, a sharp decline in ginger production owing to erratic monsoon and various diseases affecting the crop, have put the farmers in crisis.
Many farmers were not able to repay the interest on the loans taken from financial institutions.
Hence the government should write off the interest of farmer loans. The meet also demanded that a moratorium be announced on recovery of farmer loans for one year.
P. Rajendran, Associate Director of Research, Regional Agriculture Research Station, Ambalavayal, inaugurated the programme.
