Ginger scene hots up

At the time of this article’s writing, ginger production was starting to become popular in the Mpumalanga Lowveld, thanks to the rhizomes made available to farmers there.

- 

At the time of this article’s writing, ginger production was starting to become popular in the Mpumalanga Lowveld, thanks to the rhizomes made available to farmers there.

Ginger is hotter than hot in Hazyview and other areas of the subtropical [Mpumalanga] Lowveld, for last season, the 50-odd members of the recently formed Ginger Growers’ Association sold fresh ginger to the value of R600 000 [about R11,9 million].

It is a minor farming boom, a sideline bonus for mainly banana growers, but with a question mark over its future.

Will it last and how accurate are the estimates of instant wealth?

One farmer, it is rumoured, is grossing R55 000/ha [R990 000/ha]. It is suggested that when the crop is grown out of season (as some farmers are trying to do), escalating prices will push returns to a possible R75 000/ha [R1,5 million/ha].

Ginger prices have varied considerably in the past due, it is said, to oversupply and unrestricted importing. However, some control has been introduced with the formation of the growers’ association. For those farmers not yet into ginger, what are the facts behind the spice?