Why ginger faces gloomy future despite bumper harvests

In Kilimanjaro Region, the crop is mostly cultivated in Same District, particularly in Mamba Vunta, Ndungu, and Mwembe Mbaga divisions, which collectively have 16 wards.

The wards are Myamba, Mpinji, Lugulu, Bwambo, Mtii, Bombo, Vuje, Maore, Ndungu, Kisiwani, Kirangare, Ndungu, Msindo, Mshewa Tae, and Vunta.

The residents of these wards have for many years relied on the crop as one of their income-generating crops.

Produce transforms lives

Ginger farming has transformed lives in the growing districts, divisions, and wards. Many have built modern houses and bought cars.

These benefits have been possible thanks to the government’s decision through the Ministry of Agriculture to establish a ginger processing factory for the crop’s value addition.

The factory has a processing capacity of 10 tonnes of ginger per day, which is equivalent to 3,000 tonnes per year.

Farmers have it that the crop has lifted them out of poverty.

They, however, said that price fluctuations remain the major challenge despite their efforts to improve production.

John Tumaini, a farmer in Mamba Myamba, says residents in the district have for many years depended on the crop for their livelihoods.

“Farmers bought cars, paid school fees for their children, and even built modern houses through ginger farming. Things have however changed in recent years due to a serious decline in prices,” says Tumaini.

“We used to grow ginger for six months and celebrate afterwards because the market was readily available. We used to ferry our produce to Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisumu, Zambia, Malawi, and many other places where there were potential buyers,” he adds.

Falling prices

Tumaini says a fall in price in the international market meant a loss for the farmers.

According to him, a bag of ginger was previously sold at Sh170,000 to Sh200,000 per bag, noting that currently, the price has plunged to an average of Sh40,000 to Sh70,000.

“Ginger should fetch reasonable prices in order to benefit farmers who have been depending on the crop for many years. Most residents rely on agriculture, as it has liberated us from many challenges,” he shares.

Farmers used to celebrate during harvest time around September, as they engaged in the ginger harvest, during which the price was higher.

“Farmers can earn an average of Sh5 million to Sh6 million from one acre, therefore improving the economy of livelihoods in the Pare Mountains.”

Hilda Mjema, another farmer in Pinchi Village, Same District, says traders and consumers highly prefer the ginger grown in the district due to its high quality, which makes it marketable in different countries.

She says farmers who observe the best farming practises produce an average of 10 to 12 bags of ginger per acre.

Ms Mjema said the instability of prices is a huge challenge facing farmers.

Mjema mentions pests and disease outbreaks as another challenge facing the crop and that available pesticides and medicines sometimes don’t meet the farmers needs.

“The government should find reliable markets for ginger and mobilise farmers to increase production. It should create an enabling environment for farmers through the provision of subsidised fertilisers and secure reliable markets from outside the country.”

She says farmers use a lot of energy in the cultivation of the crop and end up making losses due to price fluctuations.

The chairman of the ginger processing factory in Same District, Mr Mbaraka Ally, shares that currently, ginger is sold at Sh350 to Sh400 per kilo as compared to the Sh1,500 to Sh1,600 fetched previously per kilo.

“The price decline has frustrated ginger farmers. The government should find a reliable market for the produce,” he says.

Kilimanjaro Region Agriculture Officer Godwin Maro calls upon regional authorities to join hands with stakeholders in setting up a modern processing factory in Same District in order to increase the crop’s market within and outside the country.

“Regional authorities have been collaborating with other stakeholders, such as the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (Tantrade) and the Ministry of Agriculture, in securing foreign markets,” he notes.

He says the ministry of Agriculture has set up a Sh1.6 billion ginger project in the district through the provision of irrigation infrastructure, noting that the crop requires a relative amount of water.

The origin of ginger

Ginger is widely grown in Malaysia, China, Indonesia, and East and West Africa.

In Tanzania it’s grown in Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Morogoro, Mbeya (Mbozi), Kagera (Bukoba), Kigoma, and Ruvuma regions.

According to Same District Agriculture, Irrigation, and Cooperative Officer Omary Mhina, an estimated 1,680 hectares are used for ginger farming in the district.

Ginger thrives at an altitude of 200 to 500 metres above sea level, although it can be grown up to 900 metres high, according to Mr Mhina.

The crop requires rainfall ranging from 300mm to 700mm; however, the water requirement significantly reduces during harvestinng.

Cultivation                    

The expert says that a ginger farm should be well ventilated to allow the sun’s rays to reach the crop, except for some varieties that require shading.

He advises farmers to choose better seeds with a large circumference and make sure they do not have any diseases.

“The seeds should then be cut and dipped in the ashes before sowing in order to get better results. They should be kept in a dark place for two to three weeks to allow sprouting before being subjected to actual planting,” says Mr Mhina.

Weeding

Weeding a ginger farm is important in order to get better crops. Accumulation of sand on a ginger stem is recommended to strengthen the plant.

“The second phase of weeding should be done after two months, while the third should be done after four to five months,” says the expert.

Weeding makes air circulation in the roots easy, and the soil should be loose and cleanliness maintained on a ginger farm.

Application of fertilisers

"Take manure and mix it with Triple Superphosphate (TSP), Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) or Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) before planting,” says Mr Mhina.

“One 50 kilos bag is enough for one acre, put one and half a kilo in each planting hole and mix it well with the soil. If necessary, put Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) in order for the ginger to grow well in the hills and Sulphate of Ammonia (SA) for better results in the valleys,” the expert adds.

Mr Mhina cautions however, that excessive application of fertilisers reduces root growth and increases leaf growth, noting that one month is required for a ginger seed to sprout after planting.