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Collaboration with Chinese scientists can help successful cultivation of ginger in Pakistan

By Fatima Javed | Gwadar Pro Jan 11, 2022

Collaboration with Chinese scientists can help successful cultivation of ginger in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Jan 11.(Gwadar Pro)-Collaboration with Chinese scientists through China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) program can help successful cultivation of ginger in Pakistan.

“A team of scientists including breeders, soil scientists, economists, etc. should be funded to develop new ginger varieties suitable for the local environment”, stated by Pakistan Planning Commission’s ‘Cluster Development Based Agriculture Transformations Plan Vision- 2025’.

According to the report, the team should interact with Chinese scientists through CPEC program to import ginger germplasm and develop appropriate management practices to achieve the target yield at least equal, or higher than the world average within the speculated period.

The Planning Commission, from Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives (MoPD), its report also suggests that certain tracts in Mansehrah district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province can perhaps suitably meet the ginger cultivation requirements.

The pH level of the soil in the district is around 6.8 and it has a large tract of sloppy lands suitable for ginger cultivation. The temperature and humidity level of the district during March-May remains in a reasonable range suitable for ginger cultivation.

A Chinese survey in the past also substantiated these claims, the report added.

Due to the negligence of policy makers on the improvement of the ginger value chain, ginger production in Pakistan has dried down, and the country now completely relies on its imports by spending over US$70 million per annum.

The export of processed ginger from Pakistan, which is mainly re-exported, does not compensate for its high imports. As a result, trade deficit is ballooning overtime because of the consumers' increasing preference for ginger consumption, dwindled ginger supply from domestic sources and the increase in import prices.

According to statistics, global production of ginger recorded in 2019 was 4.1 million tons. India leads global production; however, China topped the world exports. China's ginger cultivation area is about 30.000 hectares, with a total yield of harvested produce of more than 2 million tons.

The world export of ginger reached US$855.0 million in 2017, which is growing at the rate of 17% per annum. The top importers of ginger are the USA and Pakistan.

Pakistan imports ginger mainly from China, Thailand and India. Being a neighboring and friendly country of Pakistan, it is most feasible for Pakistan to import ginger from China.

Recently, Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali, chairman of Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) with the senator Dr. Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, inaugurated the first ever ginger cultivation during the ginger harvest workshop at Balkasar Chakwal.

This was the first ginger harvest piloted in Pakistan. The crop duration is 9-10 months. Chairman PARC at the workshop said that this variety of ginger has been successfully grown and tested in the field and can yield up to approximately 8 to 10 tons per acre in this area.

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