Kochi: Dried ginger production takes a fall with the rising price of ginger. Given the current price, farmers are reluctant to bear the huge expenses of collecting ginger, processing and then selling it. Heavy rains during monsoon also impacted dried ginger (Chukku/ Saunth) production.

Despite the high demand for dried ginger in the international market, farmers are unable to produce enough. The challenge intensified with even vegetable traders ready to buy ginger at face value. 

It takes 3 kilos of ginger to produce 1 kilo dried ginger. Currently, the retail price for ginger stands at Rs 280 per kilo. Buying ginger at such high prices is a loss for farmers at present. Moreover, the quality of ginger will decrease with increasing rains. Hence, dried ginger procurement is not possible.

At the same time, foreseeing market price hike, middlemen had stored away some dried ginger. With the onset of winter in foreign countries, the demand for dried ginger has increased. Thus, middlemen who had earlier stored dried ginger are making great profits, farmers informed. 

White dried ginger has the highest demand in the market. There is also great demand for dried ginger made from large sized gingers. The best quality dried ginger gets about Rs 230 per kilo in the market. Price reduces with the decrease in quality.

Relying on other states

Farmers in Kerala are withdrawing themselves from ginger cultivation due to the high cost of production. Thus, Kerala has to depend on states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim and Odisha for dried ginger procurement. 

However, floods in many of these states have affected the production. Therefore, farmers say that export will also be in crisis.