Farmers in parts of Samdrup Jongkhar grow ginger as a key source of income. They will begin harvesting the rhizomes next month. However, not all farmers are looking forward to the harvest season. Ginger growers in Martshala Gewog are concerned about low yield due to the dying of ginger plants during the growing stage.
Ten Gyaltshen in Martshala Gewog is one of the affected farmers. He says his ginger plants began dying in June with leaves turning yellow, followed by the rhizomes rotting.
Disheartened by the situation, he stopped weeding his fields. Today, he is trying to salvage whatever remains after the infection. Much of the harvest is dried rhizome which can barely fetch him any cash.
“Last year, I earned almost Nu 180,000, but this year, I think I won’t even get Nu 70,000. Besides, I won’t be able to keep ginger seeds for next season.”
“The ginger plants started turning yellow and then started to rot, after that, I even stopped weeding. Oranges have already perished, and our only hope was ginger, but it will also die. Compared to last year, the damage is severe this year,” said Sonam Yangdon, a ginger grower.
“Compared to other crops ginger is better but it started dying now,” said Kelzang Wangdi, another ginger grower.
Meanwhile, Martshala Gewog Agriculture Extension Officer says villagers have not reported about it yet. However, the official says, the dying of ginger plants is due to a fungal or bacterial infection called rhizome rot.
Agriculture officials say the disease has not spread severely in the gewog.
The official recommends farmers to use disease-free seeds, maintain proper drainage in the fields, and practice crop rotation to prevent infections.
The official also added that the office has placed an order for a chemical to treat rhizome rot from the National Plant Protection Center which will soon be available for use.
According to the Integrated Agriculture and Livestock Census of Bhutan 2023, of the 3,000 tonnes of ginger the country produced, 630 tonnes were from Samdrup Jongkhar making it the highest ginger-producing district.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Phub Gyem
