Kochi 23 July (Commodities control) National production of ginger might go up marginally during FY 2020-21, according to the second advance estimates on horticulture crops, released by the Ministry of Agriculture. The estimate states that total production would be 18,85,000 tones in 2020-21 as against 18,68,000 tones in the previous financial year.
Whopping increase in export demand, due to Covid pandemic, helped the increase in production of the spice in 2020-21. Ginger is not only used as a spice but it is effective to boost immunity of human body.
In 2016 – 17 ginger production was 18,30,590 tones, in 2017-18 this was 17,94,560 tones and 2018-19 the figure was 18,51,090 tones.
During last financial year India exported 125,700 tonnes of ginger valued at Rs 756.65 crore as against 60,410 tones valued at Rs 530 crore. 108 per cent jump recorded in volume and 43 per cent in value. Volume wise this is the second largest increase among all types of spices exported from India.
Cardamom registered the biggest jump in volume terms, 251 per cent during 2020-21. It is interesting to note that India had exported roughly 6.7 per cent of its total production. However, the average export value of the spice decreased to Rs 60.19/Kg from Rs 87.58 in 2019-20, according to the Spices Board data on exports.
The advanced estimates indicate that the total area under ginger cultivation is rather unchanged at 176,000 hactares and this was 178,000 hactares in FY 2019 -20. But there is a moderate increase when compared to FY 2018-19. Ginger was cultivated 164,000 ha during that year as per the final figure of the estimate.
Increase in production projected in the case of garlic also. As per the second advanced estimates, total garlic output might be 31,19,000 tones in 2020-21 as against 29,25,000 tones.
There is moderate increase in the case of acerage of garlic cultivation. The area under the spice is 385,000 ha as against 352,000 ha in 2019-20. In 2016 – 17 garlic production was 30,34,810 tones, in 2017-18 this was 31,13,740 tones and 2018-19 the figure was 29,18,950 tones.
Meanwhile, garlic export was weak during 2020 -21 and total export was 17,950 tones valued at Rs 156.30 crore. In the previous financial year export was 22,280 tones valued at Rs 172 crore.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau: +91-22-40015505)