It is a tough season for ginger growers in Martshala chiwog in Samdrup Jongkhar. Farmers say gingers are rotting in the fields during the growing stage, while prices have also dropped compared to last year. With ginger being their main source of income, many are worried about recovering their hard work this year.
The ginger fields are turning yellow. And as the leaves dry, rhizomes start rotting, slowly killing what farmers depend on as their main source of income.
Farmers harvest ginger twice a year.
Adding to the farmers’ worries, the price has fallen by about Nu 25 per kilogramme compared to last year.
According to the Martshala tshogpa, all the 165 households in the chiwog cultivate ginger, and about 140 of them are seeing their crop affected.
About 20 farmers have reported the issue to the gewog agriculture extension office and received neem oil treatment, but it has proven less effective.
Nima Choden, a farmer said, “We usually use stored ginger seeds for plantation. Ginger is the main source of income for many of us. Some work in contract work. Whatever we do, we need money, we get it from ginger, now gingers are dying, we don’t know what to do.”
Likewise, Singay Zangmo said, “Our orange trees have already died, so we turned to ginger cultivation. Now even gingers are dying, and we don’t know what to do. Ginger is our only source of income, and with the crop failing, we are worried.”
Another farmer Karma Tshomo said, “This year I tried to cultivate ginger, but all the crops died. The plants are turning yellow.”
Similarly, Namgay said, “To cultivate ginger, we have to dig the field first, and then we have to weed three to four times before harvesting. Now gingers are dying and we don’t know what to do.”
The gewog agriculture extension office said growing the same crop in the same field every year caused it.
So, the agriculture extension officer has advised farmers to regularly monitor their fields, rotate crops, and segregate affected plants for proper disposal to control pests and diseases.
The official has also asked chiwogs to collect a list of farmers who will require pesticides for ginger and other crops next year.
With plants drying and rhizomes rotting, many farmers fear this year’s yield may not bring them any income.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Tshering Zam
