Guwahati: Ten tons of premium organic ginger was exported to Dubai on 12 March from the Padum Pathar Agro Organic Farmers' Producer Company (FPC) in Golaghat, Assam. This consignment was facilitated by the Directorate of Horticulture of the Assam government, operating under the aegis of the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for Northeast Region (MOVCDNER), a central sector scheme.

Speaking to Business North East, Anjal Limbu, the chairman of 'Padum Pathar' informed that the ginger was shipped at Rs 95 per kilo. "Annually we grow 350 MT of ginger", Limbu said.

"We should adopt organic practices and try to promote organic farming as much as possible", Limbu added. "It not only will help grow the state economically, it is also beneficial for health."

"Last year we generated a revenue of Rs 3.5 crore", Limbu said, adding that around 1,500 farmers are associated with his platform. "We grow turmeric, lemon, black pepper, papaya, pumpkin, and banana besides ginger along with organic vegetables," Limbu mentioned. 

"We are targetting Germany and a few more countries for exports next year", he told BNE. "We will soon be coming up with a processing unit for value-added crops like potato, lalblab beans, french bean, spiny gourd, brinjal, yardlong bean, taro, and tomato." In 2021, they exported 20 metric tonnes of turmeric at Rs 2 per kilo to Saudi Arabia in 2021, facilitated by a Hyderabad-based export company.

The transition from conventional to organic farming methods has been a game-changer for farmers in Golaghat district, where agriculture has long been a traditional livelihood. Empowered by the guidance and support extended by MOVCDNER, these farmers have embraced organic cultivation practices, resulting in a substantial improvement in the quality and value of their produce.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma through social media platform X, highlighted the significance of this achievement. The export of organic ginger not only opens new avenues for Assam's agricultural produce in the global market but also promises lucrative returns for farmers, with prices soaring up to 50% higher than conventional rates, he said.

The Chief Minister has set a target to reach Rs 10,000 crores of agri and wickerwork exports by the 2026-2027 financial year.

Another 10 metric tonnes of organic ginger will be exported to Dubai next week, sourced from an FPC in the Karbi Anglong district, Business North East has learned.

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