State government's move relieves ginger farmers

Aizawl, Apr 30 (UNI) The Mizoram government has agreed to purchase home-grown ginger at the rate of Rs 6 per kg, giving hope to farmers across the state.

The government had started to procure ginger through the Mizoram Agricultural Crop Growers and Marketing Society (MACGAMS) from last Friday.

The estimated quantity of ginger in Mizoram is 1.5 lakh quintals.

Mizo National Front's 'farmers cell' secretary T Lalhmachhuana said here today.

The MNF government promised to buy our ginger at the rate of Rs 10 per kg from our doorsteps. To sell our ginger at Rs 6 per kg is far short of what we had actually been promised, said a ginger grower.

The MNF farmers cell had urged Chief Minister Mr Zoramthanga to take steps to commercialise the home-grown ginger.

Mr Zoramthanga had allocated Rs one crore from the Mizoram Intodelhna (self-sufficiency) Project.

Since China can export ginger at a very low price, the price of ginger has drastically gone down in the North-east.

Meanwhile, the opposition Zoram Nationalist Party has criticised the state's decision and said this is not the harvest season for ginger.

UNI