Low prices leave ginger growers in distress

Ginger growers in Kodagu district are in distress owing to a dip in prices of the crop. Amid scanty rainfall, farmers had cultivated ginger using drip irrigation hoping for a bumper price in the market. The sharp decline in price has caused inconvenience to farmers.

At a time when coffee and paddy failed to get scientific price, farmers shifted their preference to ginger cultivation in Kodagu district.

A 60-kg bag of ginger was fetching Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 two months ago but now the price has come down to Rs 1,000 for a 60 kg bag. Farmers feel that scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes led to decline in price of ginger. In addition, even middlemen are responsible for a sharp decline in the price, said farmer Prem Kumar.

Farmers in distress

“Expecting a bumper price, farmers had cultivated ginger on a large scale but now they are in distress,” said ginger merchant from Hebbale H S Rajashekar.

Ginger purchase centres have been opened at Hebbale, Koodige, Guddehosur, Alooru, Shanivarasanthe and Suntikoppa. From these centres, ginger is sent to markets in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad.