Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Aizawl: The Indian government has launched the Rs 189.79 crore Mizoram Ginger Mission, a strategic initiative designed to bolster ginger cultivation, processing, and global market access for local farmers. The project was inaugurated on May 13 by Union DONER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma during a virtual event held at the Chief Minister's Office in Aizawl, with Horticulture Minister C Lalsawivunga in attendance.
Implemented under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, the mission aims to transform the agricultural landscape by fostering value addition, robust branding, and improved processing infrastructure. Minister Scindia emphasized that the initiative follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of integrating farmers into the entire value chain. He noted that while Mizo ginger possesses an impressive oleoresin content of 6 to 8 percent, compared to the global average of 3 percent, farmers currently earn only Rs 8 to Rs 15 per kilogram despite international prices exceeding Rs 500 per kilogram.
The project will function through four core pillars: convergence, value addition, branding, and market integration. It includes the establishment of an integrated processing hub and three spoke centers, alongside over 30 strategic interventions intended to connect nearly 20,000 farming households to a unified ecosystem. The long-term goal is to introduce Mizo ginger to markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe while maintaining strict traceability and international quality standards.
Chief Minister Lalduhoma stated that the mission will prioritize sustainable farming practices, food safety, mechanization, and solarization. He highlighted that the state's signature ginger varieties, Thingpui and Thinglaidum, earned Geographical Indication tags in 2021. Furthermore, recent testing by Eurofins Analytical Services has confirmed that the produce meets global quality requirements, reinforcing the state government's commitment to supporting agricultural growth through initiatives like minimum support prices.
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