The continuous fall in raw ginger prices has put farmers in a tight spot. The spot price for raw ginger in Wayanad on Tuesday was Rs.800 a bag (60 kg) as against Rs.2,500 a bag during the corresponding period last year. The price was Rs.1,600 a bag a few weeks ago.
A huge arrival of the produce in Kerala and Karnataka markets after a premature harvest owing to various diseases affecting the rhizomes was the major reason for the current fall in price, P.V. Eliyas, a ginger trader at Meenangadi, says.
Many farmers have tried their luck in ginger cultivation this year after a better price ruled the market for the past three years but most of them are facing huge loss now owing to the spread of soft rot, a fungal disease; and low price.
Bad investment
P.V. Sandeep, a farmer at Ambalavayal, said he had invested nearly Rs.3 lakh to cultivate the crop on one acre of leased land but was compelled to take premature harvest from half of the land after the fungal disease hit the cultivation. “I got only 40 bags of ginger after the harvest,” Mr. Sandeep said, adding that he had no idea how to recoup the investment.
He planted the crop nearly five months ago and the crop needed a minimum period of eight months to reach its full growth.
The condition of the Keralite farmers who have cultivated the crop on leased land in various parts of Karnataka is no different, Navrang Mohanan, general secretary, Kerala Ginger Growers Association (KGGA), said.
The area of ginger cultivation had increased nearly threefold this season because of good price for the produce for the past three years.
