Ginger Farmers Struggle with Low Prices and Crop Losses

In India’s ginger-growing regions, farmers are grappling with a sharp drop in ginger prices and widespread crop diseases. Prices of fresh ginger rhizomes in the Wayanad market have fallen to $0,28 per kg from $1,07 per kg in the same period last year. Prices for one-year-old ginger rhizomes have similarly plunged, dropping from $1,73 per kg to just $0,82 per kg, leaving farmers struggling to break even.

From Hope to Crisis: A Season Gone Wrong

After last year’s record-high ginger prices, many farmers expanded cultivation this season, tripling the area under production. However, this optimism was short-lived. Heavy rains and rot-inducing diseases have damaged crops across key regions, turning a promising season into one filled with financial losses and uncertainty.

Farmers Forced to Harvest Early, Facing Reduced Yields

Farmers like K. Sreedharan from Ambalavayal recount their struggles. Sreedharan planted 15 bags of ginger seed, on rented land. However, disease and waterlogging forced him to harvest prematurely. Despite managing a harvest of 30 bags, he sold them at minimal prices and barely covered his rent.

Farmers in low-lying areas report similar stories, as unrelenting rains made it impossible to apply fertilizers on time. Yields, which usually range between 18 and 25 tonnes per acre, are now projected to drop to 10–12 tonnes, according to farmers like K.K. Mathew from Nadavayal.

The Heavy Cost of Ginger Farming

The high investment costs of ginger farming have left many farmers in dire situations. K.K. Mathew, who planted ginger on 10 acres of leased land in Sargur, Mysuru, estimates his total investment at $72,000. At current market prices, he fears recovering even half of his costs, putting immense financial strain on his operations.

A Critical Crop for Many, Despite Challenges

Despite these setbacks, ginger cultivation continues to play a vital role in regions like Wayanad, Kannur, Kozhikode, and Palakkad. Over 20,000 farmers in Karnataka cultivate ginger on approximately 80,000 hectares of leased land. However, persistent price volatility and crop diseases are leaving many questioning the sustainability of ginger farming in these areas.





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