After nearly four years of disappointing returns, ginger farmers in Samdrup Jongkhar are finally seeing a turnaround. Ginger prices have climbed to as high as Nu 90 per kilogram this season, offering a much-needed boost to farmers’ incomes and renewed confidence in ginger cultivation.
For the past four years, the highest price for ginger hovered at around Nu 35 per kilogram, leaving many farmers struggling to recover their production costs.
This season, however, prices have more than doubled. Farmers are now selling their produce for between Nu 50 and 90 per kilogram, depending on the quality.
“From my first harvest, I earned Nu 32,000 and this time I received another Nu 18,000. The income has helped me meet my children’s education expenses,” said Pema Yangdon, a ginger grower.
“Earlier, the price of ginger was not good, but this year it has increased, and villagers are happy. When we get better prices, it encourages us to cultivate more ginger in the coming years,” said Kinzang Dorji, also a ginger grower in the district.
Farmers bring their ginger to Samdrup Jongkhar town, where it is purchased by local traders.
According to the traders, the ginger is exported to India. They say this time the strong demand is driven by lower production in some Indian states, while harvesting has yet to begin in others, resulting in limited supply and higher prices.
“Production in Shillong has not yet started, so ginger supply in India is low. That’s why prices are high this season. When production increases in India, and more ginger reaches the market, prices here usually fall,” said Sangay Tenzin, a local trader.
In Samdrup Jongkhar, farmers plant ginger in March and harvest it twice a year. The first harvest takes place in July to August, when the mother rhizome used as seed is collected and sold for early income.
The remaining shoots are left to mature and harvested again in early winter.
Samdrup Jongkhar produces around 650 metric tonnes of ginger annually, making it the second-highest ginger-producing district in the country.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Phub Gyem
