Ginger cultivation in Mizoram: Status, constraints, sustainable approaches and prospects

Ginger is an important cash crop of India including Mizoram. It plays a vital role in the livelihood security and income of Mizo farmers. The high suitability of agro-climatic conditions for ginger cultivation in Mizoram is attributed to their special characteristics like aroma, pungency, less crude fibre, distinctive taste and high gingerol content. However, there are certain constraints such as traditional Jhum farming, unavailability of quality planting materials, high production cost, lack of proper marketing channel, post-harvest losses etc., that result in lower production. Though, scientific interventions like providing need base farmers training of good agricultural practices for ginger cultivation; timely availability of high yielding quality planting material like Bold Nadia and Bhaise; soil solarization and pre-planting rhizome treatment; crop rotation and adoption of intercropping with other crops; timely pests and diseases management etc., would result in doubling the production of ginger as compared to production under conventional methods. At the same time, Mizoram received GI tag for “Mizo Ginger” has been attracting the attention and interest of buyers globally. Therefore, there is an urgent need to focus on its production through government support with scientific backup, so that farmers can improve its production and productivity