Umerkote: Ginger cultivation by some Keralite and Kannada farmers over a thousand-acre land on the fringes of Umerkote in Nabarangpur district has become a source of envy for locals. The Keralite and Kannada farmers are transporting the harvested ginger to Chennai and Bangalore and earning huge amounts of money while their Odia counterparts are not able to do much. This has happened due to a lack of awareness about the crop among local farmers and the absence of support from the Horticulture department. The climate in Umerkote is conducive to ginger cultivation.
However, local farmers have not been able to take advantage of the situation. The Keralite and Kannada farmers also buy the ginger grown by the locals at a very cheap rate and then make huge profits out of it by sending the product to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Apart from Umerkote, farmers in Raighar and Jharigaon blocks in the district have also done ginger cultivation on small patches of lands and reaped good harvests. However, others are not interested in it as they fear losses and also because support from the Horticulture department is not forthcoming. They pointed out that if the department backed them they would go for ginger cultivation.
Local farmers said that they are missing out on good profits as prices of ginger have gone up from Rs 80 per kilogram to Rs 150/kg in the wholesale market. Currently, ginger traders at Semiliguda in Koraput district are selling it at Rs 148 per kilogram. Local traders pointed out that soon ginger may hit the Rs 200/kg-mark.
Sources said that the ginger cultivated in Semiliguda is transported to Nabarangpur and Umerkote for sale in local markets due to a shortage in production. This has resulted in ginger prices going up considerably. When contacted, junior Horticulture department officer, Saroj Kumar Senapati said that the government is always ready to support farmers. However, he pointed out that turmeric seeds were provided to farmers in 2012-13, but at that time they did not show any interest. Senapati however, stated that if farmers are interested, the department will provide them with turmeric and ginger seeds at subsidised rates. Farmers, on the other hand, alleged that they are suffering due to the absence of a proper Horticulture department office and an officer who can guide them accordingly.