Advanced Ginger Farming: Best Varieties, Methods & Profit Insights

Ginger, full of versatile properties, is a cash crop. Ginger has an important place in vegetable, spice and medicinal category crops and Ginger is used daily in every household. It is in demand all the year round. The demand and consumption of ginger encourages farmers to cultivate ginger, because due to the demand, ginger gets a good price in the market.

Consumption of ginger provides relief in diseases like cold, cough, digestive problems, stones and jaundice. Ginger is also used in cosmetics. Farmers with small holdings can easily cultivate ginger. Ginger crop is ready in 7 to 8 months. Its different varieties produce 15 to 20 tonnes of ginger tuber per hectare. After deducting all the costs, farmers earn about two lakh rupees per hectare from ginger cultivation.

Climate for Ginger Cultivation

Ginger is cultivated all over the country. It requires warm climate and less irrigation. Even in areas with high rainfall, if the water is drained quickly in the field, then it is also favorable for ginger. Ginger yield is high in fertile soil rich in fossils and organic elements. Ginger is cultivated in hot and humid areas, and 20 to 30 degree Celsius temperature is most suitable for it. If the temperature is higher than this, the crop may get damaged.

On the other hand, leaves and rhizomes are damaged due to temperature below 10 degrees Celsius. Ginger tubers are produced more in open fields which receive bright sunlight. There should be light moisture till the sowing sprouts, moderate rain during the growth of the crop and dry weather one month before the harvesting of the crop.

Tips for sowing ginger

Before sowing ginger, the soil of the field should be made very loose, so that the tubers can develop well. In hard soil, the development of tubers is hampered and the yield decreases. For sowing ginger, the field should be plowed well and ridges should be made at a distance of one foot. The seeds should be buried up to 5 centimeters in the soil and a distance of 6-7 inches should be kept between them. For South Indian climate, the sowing time should be April and for North Indian areas, May-June. If there is proper irrigation facility, sowing can be done in February also. Ginger sown in February gives more yield when it ripens.

Ginger seeds are prepared from its tuber. It is better to have two eyes in it. These are separated by cutting them from the tuber of the new crop. In hilly areas, about 1.5 lakh i.e. 25 quintals of seeds may be required per hectare, whereas in plain areas 18 quintals of seeds (rhizomes) are sufficient. Before planting the seeds, they should be treated to prevent diseases. This also improves the germination of ginger plants.

Process of Ginger Farming

Prepare the field

For higher yield of ginger, light loamy or sandy loam soil is best. Good yield of ginger is obtained in land with pH value of 6.0 to 7.5. There should be a good drainage system for ginger cultivation. Plough the field well with a soil turning plough. After this, plough again with a local plough or cultivator.

This will make the soil soft. 3 to 4 weeks before the last ploughing, add 250 to 300 quintals of rotten cow dung manure to the field. After this, plough the field once or twice again and mix the manure in the soil. Only after this, cultivate ginger.

Get your soil tested and seek expert advice

The ginger tuber develops 6 to 8 inches in the ground. That is why the nutrients obtained from fertile soil are very helpful for its good growth. For good earnings in ginger cultivation, manure should be used only after getting the soil of the field tested and taking advice from agricultural experts. However, there is no answer to the use of cow dung manure at the time of ploughing. Ginger does not require much irrigation. If its needs are not met by rain, then light irrigation should be done. Regularly preventing weeds through weeding and applying soil on the stem of ginger also increases the yield. 

Ginger can be sown using these three methods

It takes 8 to 9 months for the ginger crop to be ready. The yield of ginger from one hectare is 150 to 200 quintals. Know about the three methods of sowing ginger.

Bed method: In this method, 1.20 meter wide and 3 meter long beds are made. These beds should be 15-20 centimeters high from the ground surface. A 50 cm wide drain should be made around each bed. Seeds should be sown at a depth of 8 to 10 centimeters at a distance of 30-20 centimeters in the bed.

Ridge method: In this method, after sowing the seeds at a distance of 20 centimeters, ridges are made by piling soil. Seeds are sown at a depth of 10 centimeters. This leads to good germination of seeds. Ginger is cultivated by this method in areas where there is a problem of waterlogging.

Flat Method: This method is adopted in light soil. In this method, the distance between rows should be 30 cm. The distance between plants is 20 cm. The seeds should be sown at a depth of 8 to 10 cm. In areas where there is no waterlogging, cultivation is done by this method.

Care of Ginger Crops

It is very important to take care of ginger crops. Initially, ginger needs light moisture, especially when the plants are growing. After this, when the crop is growing, there should be moderate rain and good drainage. It is also important to remove weeds (grass) in the field. For this, do weeding (cleaning) regularly. Also, adding soil around the stems of ginger plants helps the crop grow. Use the right amount of fertilizer in crop care, but it is better to consult experts for this. With good care, the yield of ginger increases and it also remains safe from diseases and pests.

Digging and Cleaning Ginger

About eight months after sowing ginger, when its tuber is fully developed under the ground, its leaves turn yellow and start drying. If ginger is to be used as a vegetable, then the crop should be dug out before the crop is fully ripe or in about the seventh month. The fully ripe crop is suitable for making ginger seeds.

After digging, the ginger tuber is washed with water and the soil is separated and dried. So that it can be used for more days. Dried ginger gets a good price in the market. The seed tuber should be kept after treating it properly so that it remains safe for a longer period.

Top Varieties of Ginger

Many improved varieties of ginger are available, including some hybrid varieties that give higher yield. Different varieties are suitable for different areas. Suprabha, Himgiri, Himachal, Nadia, IISR Varada and IISR Mahima are considered improved varieties, while indigenous varieties are also popular among farmers.

Different varieties vary in maturity time and yield, so farmers should consult agricultural experts before sowing. Nadia variety, famous for making dry ginger, is one of the high yielding varieties, which matures in about 200 days and gives a yield of about 28 tonnes per hectare. Some improved varieties of ginger are as follows-

Maran: Light golden colour, matures in 230-240 days, yield potential 175-200 quintals per hectare, protected from soft rot disease.

Nadia: Suitable for Bihar, matures in 8-9 months, yield potential 200-250 quintals per hectare.

Suprabha: Yield potential 200-230 quintals per hectare, maturity in 225-230 days, tolerant to rhizome rot disease.

Jorhat: Popular variety of Assam, yield potential 200-225 quintals per hectare, maturity in 8-10 months.

Rio de Janeiro: White and shiny skin, yield potential 200-230 quintals per hectare, maturity in 225-230 days, tolerant to rhizome rot disease.

Marketing of Ginger Crop

Marketing of ginger crop is very important as its demand remains throughout the year. Various improved varieties of ginger, such as Suprabha, Himgiri, and Nadia, provide better yield to farmers, thereby increasing their income. Farmers should plan the marketing of their crop in advance. It is important to ensure that ginger gets a fair price. Keeping in mind the demand for ginger in different markets, farmers can earn more profit by selling their produce at the right time.

Also, improved varieties and good care in ginger cultivation increase the yield, which also strengthens their competitiveness in the market. Farmers should understand marketing strategies by taking advice from agricultural experts, so that they can sell their crop in a better way.

Diseases and prevention of ginger

Ginger should not be cultivated continuously in a field. Rather, crop rotation should be adopted. By growing ginger repeatedly in the same field, the insects that attack it become more deadly and the effect of pesticides on them decreases. It is important to protect ginger plants from stem borer insects, rhizome scale insects, root borer insects and leaf spot virus. 

Benefits and Challenges of Ginger Farming

There are many benefits of ginger farming:

High demand: Ginger is in demand in every season. People use it for cooking, spices and medicinal properties. Therefore, farmers find it easy to sell.

Good market price: The market price of ginger is often good. With this, farmers can earn good profits after recovering their costs.

Low investment: Ginger cultivation does not require a lot of money, so even small farmers can do it easily.

However, there are some challenges in ginger cultivation:

Climate and soil: Ginger requires the right climate and fertile soil. If the weather is not right or the soil is not good, the crop can be affected.

Pests and diseases: Many pests and diseases can attack the ginger crop. It is important to manage them so that the crop remains healthy.

Following crop rotation: It is also important to follow crop rotation in ginger cultivation. Growing ginger repeatedly in the same field can reduce the quality of the land and also increase pests.

So, farmers should understand these benefits and challenges while cultivating ginger, so that they can farm better and earn more profits.

Latest Techniques in Ginger Farming

Farmers are now using new techniques to make ginger cultivation more efficient and effective. These include:

Organic farming methods: Farmers are using organic fertilizers and pesticides. This keeps the crop safe and healthy, and it is also more preferred in the market.

New methods of irrigation: Water can be saved by using modern irrigation techniques like drip irrigation. This ensures that the ginger crop gets the right amount of water and also increases the yield.

Selection of improved varieties: Farmers are selecting improved and high-yielding varieties, such as Nadia and Suprabha. These varieties ripen early and give more production.

Proper care of plants: Caring for plants with scientific methods, such as timely fertilization and pest control, increases the quality and quantity of the crop.

By adopting these new techniques, farmers can get better results in ginger cultivation and increase their income.

Success Stories in Ginger Farming

Omana, a resident of Kerala, adopted a unique method of ginger cultivation. She chose barren land and today she is known as ‘Ginger Woman’ in her area.

Omana is a resident of Chemponoda village in Calicut district. She had a keen interest in ginger cultivation, so she decided to start it. But she thought of doing scientific farming instead of traditional farming. For this, she took technical assistance from ICAR-Agricultural Science Center located in Peruvanamuzhi and started ginger cultivation.

Omana does organic farming and grows ginger in jute bags. For this, she chose barren land, and this is why people call her ‘Ginger Woman’. She spreads jute sacks on the ground in an area of ​​2.5 cents. To prepare ginger plants, she uses 5 grams of chopped rhizomes in trays filled with coir-pith, dried cow dung and Trichoderma. For a good crop of ginger, she also has to provide adequate sunlight, irrigation and timely fertilizer.

Along with ginger cultivation, Omana also cultivates black pepper and various fruits. She is also rearing ornamental fish, earthworms and birds. Apart from this, she has also tried to increase her income through value-added products. ‘Nutmeg Peel Candy’, ‘Garcinia Peel Paste’ and ‘Dry Ginger’ are her new and successful spice products. Now Omana is also training other farmers at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, so that they can also do successful farming. His story proves that with hard work and the right information, success can be achieved in any difficult situation. 

Conclusion and Recommendations

Ginger farming is a good business, from which farmers can earn good profits. For this, it is necessary to plan the right technology, good care and proper selling. There is always a demand for ginger, so that farmers can sell it at a good price. Farmers should use new information and methods, such as organic farming and modern irrigation. This increases the quality and yield of the crop. Regular care, such as fertilizing on time and protecting from pests, is also important.

Marketing ginger at the right time and understanding the market demand helps in increasing the farmer’s income. If any problem arises, it is beneficial to seek advice from agricultural experts. By keeping all these things in mind, farmers can get success in ginger cultivation and ensure a good income.

Frequently Asked Questions on Ginger Farming

Question: In how many days does the ginger crop get ready?

Answer: Ginger crop is ready in 7 to 8 months, which takes about 170-180 days.

Question: How much ginger is required in 1 acre?

Answer: Ginger crop yields an average of 150 to 200 quintals per hectare. One acre costs around 1 lakh 20 thousand rupees, and it can produce about 120 quintals of ginger.

Question: When is ginger grown in India?

Answer: Ginger is cultivated in India especially in May-June.

Question: How much is ginger per kg?

Answer: Currently the price of ginger is ₹113 per kg, but it keeps increasing and decreasing according to the market.

Question: How much is ginger seed per kg?

Answer: Ginger seed is around 100-150 rupees per kg, which keeps changing according to the market.

Question: How much is ginger per kg in Pakistan?

Answer: The price of one kg of ginger in Pakistan is around 790 Pakistani rupees.

Question: Which is the largest producer of ginger?

Answer: India is considered the top producer of ginger, followed by China and Nigeria.

Question: Why is ginger so expensive?

Answer: Ginger cultivation in India is an expensive and risky business, as farmers do not get much benefit from export. More than 65% of the total cost is spent on labor and purchase of seed material.

Question: Which fertilizer should be used in ginger?

Answer: For good earnings in ginger cultivation, fertilizer should be used only after getting the soil of the field tested and taking advice from agricultural experts. The use of cow dung manure at the time of plowing is very beneficial, and ginger does not require much irrigation.

Question: How is ginger sown?

Answer: For sowing ginger, the field should be plowed well and a ridge should be made at a distance of one foot. The seeds should be buried 5 cm in the soil and a distance of 6-7 inches should be maintained between them. The sowing time is April for South Indian climate and May-June for North Indian areas. If there is proper irrigation facility, sowing can be done in February also, which gives higher yield.

Question: How to grow ginger in the field?

Answer: The preparation of the field should be good for growing ginger. It is necessary to make the soil loose and irrigate at the right time.

Question: How much ginger is produced in 1 bigha?

Answer: The yield of ginger in 1 bigha varies according to the region, but on an average about 50-60 quintals of ginger can be produced in it.

Question: What is the yield of ginger per acre?

Answer: The average yield of ginger is 90 quintals per acre, and it is ready for harvesting in 200 days.