Bimal Pradhan

Ilam, March 29:

Locals in Ilam have found a new business to follow — make readymade ginger products. They make ginger squash, ginger candy and ginger pickle as well as prepare dried ginger which also has medicinal properties. Gita Acharya took training under Women Development Association of Ilam and started the business. She said,"We never knew that so many things

could be made from ginger. I am now planning to expand my business."According to the district agriculture office of Ilam, 32,000 metric tonnes of ginger is produced from the district annually. Though some businessmen monopolise the ginger business, producing different ginger products has made things easier. Farmers are planning to export ginger squash to other districts as well. Dharma Gautam of the training team said that 20 farmers from Taplejung, Paanchthar and Ilam took part in the training, which helped farmers to get into the new business.

Some related people said that if farmers manage to establish such businesses as cottage industry,then a ginger-processing plant could be established in the villages. Purna Bhandari, trainer from Palpa, said, "Since Ilam is renowned for ginger production, this business would bloom here." Ginger is also taken as a herbal medicine and its products could gain a good market.

Himalaya Karmacharya, chairman of Ilam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, "The new ginger businesses have introduced novel income sources in Ilam. Ginger is produced everywhere here and no one had even tried to process ginger but the training has helped farmers a lot."Local Ram Devi Shrestha said, "We pay high costs for the inputs that we need for growing things in our land. With proper training, we could make the products cheaper." These products are consumable within six months from manufacture. Farmers meanwhile are trying to contact ginger farmers of Palpa and Pyuthan, who have already started ginger processing for taking a leaf out of their experience.

Ginger produced in the district is exported to Indian markets but with the making of various ginger products, farmers no longer have to rely on the Indian market for the consumption of ginger. Farmers feel that a ginger processing plant should be established in every village, as there is ample amount of raw material available for processing.