Officials at Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives (MoAC) informed Republica that Nepal overtook African nation Nigera to occupy the fourth position according to the production figures of 2008. Nepal´s position has also been confirmed by Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).[break]
“Nepal has become the fourth largest ginger producer in the world, producing 158,000 tons during 2008. Despite the government´s low priority, ginger production across the country is encouraging. This is all because of the farmers,” said Dr Hari Dahal, spokesperson of MoAC. He also said the government has no specific program to boost ginger production except the Ginger Development Program being implemented through the Nepal Agriculture Research Council - the state-owned agriculture research body.
India, China and Indonesia are the top three ginger producers in the world, producing 420,000 tons, 285,000 tons and 177,000 tons respectively during 2008, according to www. t5oa.com -- a portal that records the ´ top five of anything´ in the world.
According to MoAC, production of ginger climbed to 190,544 tons in 16,788 hectares of land during fiscal year 2009/10. As per the existing market price of about Rs 51 per kg, Nepal is producing gingers worth Rs 9.21 billion every year.
During 2008/09, Nepal produced 178,988 tons of gingers and exported ginger worth Rs 1.37 billion - about 99 percent of total production to India. The country, however, imported gingers worth Rs 550 million during the period.
Dahal said Nepal can double the production as ginger productivity can be doubled from existing 11.3 tons per hectare.
Ginger yield in India and US has crossed 18 tons and 51 tons per hectare respectively.
“Nepal can become the third largest ginger producing country within a couple of years if the government comes up with special programs to boost production and strengthen market access,” Dahal said.
Ilam, Palpa, Salyan, Doti, Morang, Kailali, Surkhet and Syangja are the major ginger producing districts.
Total ginger production was well over 1,387,000 tons across the world in 2008.
prabhakarji@gmail.com
Related story
Traders smuggling Chinese ginger into India
