Ginger growers of Sirmaur district has demanded minimum support price (MSP) for their produce. Sirmaur district is happened to be the country’s largest producers of dry ginger, but in the past few years they had incurred huge losses as they were not getting the good price for their produce.
Bella Valley of the Sirmaur district is known for its different varieties of ginger, but due to the apathy from the state Govt., people of the area are mulling to shift to other cash crops. Ginger growers alleged that they are not getting proper facilities to meet market demand and most of their produce wasted in want of market. They alleged that inspite of huge demand not only in India, but also in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Middle East and several Central Asian countries, ginger growers are getting very low prices for their produce from the local venders. Ginger growers’ demanded government to protect them from these local venders and demanded minimum support price (MSP) for their produce.
India is one of the prime producers of ginger. From pots in gardens to large-scale, mechanised operations, it is cultivated on a local and commercial scale. India stands first in the production (2, 73,333 tones) of ginger and second in the area (80,000 hectares) under ginger cultivation in the world. Ginger growers of Sirmaur district produces world class variety of Ginger and with the help of Govt, these ginger growers can contribute more to it, but only need governments protection and progressive policies and direct market intervention, so that this earliest known oriental spices could be saved in this hill state.
