NEPAL GINGER PROFILE 2016 SAMARTH Nepal Market Development Programme ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Nepal Ginger Profile 2016, has been developed in joint collaboration between Samarth-NMDP and Nepal Ginger Producers and Traders Association (NGPTA). The information in the profile aims to fulfil knowledge gaps on quality parameters of commercially traded Nepalese ginger cultivars. The data on the quality parameters will help the traders, processors and policy makers in making informed trade and marketing decisions and in accessing higher value markets. Firstly, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Buddhi Prakash Sharma Adhikari, the principle researcher of the study. His long standing experience was demonstrative in the planning and meticulous execution of the activities engaging multiple stakeholders from the twenty major ginger producing districts of Nepal. We would also like to recognize National Ginger Research Programme’s (NGRP) contribution in sample preparation and physical analysis of the cultivars. Finally, the initiative would not have been possible without sincere efforts and contribution from District Agriculture Development Offices (DADOs), farmers, traders, cooperatives and the technical expertise from various agencies, for which we are very grateful. MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY OF MoAD Ginger is an important spice crop extensively grown in the mid-hills of Nepal. Nepal is the third largest producer of ginger in the world, trailing behind China and India. Despite being one of the exportable commodities and a promising source of income for smallholder farmers, many constraints needs to be addressed for the Nepalese ginger to remain competitive in the international market. Some of these constraints include limited access to improved seeds, new technologies and market opportunities. Additionally due to limited research, it is difficult to pinpoint its physical characteristics and assess the commercial value. There is no official data on some of the essential components such as the oil and oleoresin contents that are valued by the traders and the industrial buyers. This report hopes to fulfil that gap. The report is intended to serve as a valuable resource for the ginger exporters and buyers that are engaged in the trade and marketing of ginger. I truly appreciate the initiative taken by Samarth-NMDP and the Nepal Ginger Producers and Traders Association (NGPTA) in putting together this report, which will not only help in addressing the constraints but also contribute immensely in bolstering the trade and marketing of Nepalese ginger. UK aid funded Samarth-NMDP has been working in the agriculture sector in close collaboration with both private sector and government bodies in a number of systemic interventions in response to constraints hindering the pro-poor growth in rural market systems. Similarly, NGPTA has been working with related stakeholders to create a conducive environment for growth of the ginger business through a variety of initiatives. Lastly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude and congratulate both the organizations for undertaking such a novel initiative. I am confident that the report will serve as a valuable resource to all the market players that are involved in ginger supply chain. Uttam K Bhattarai Secretary Ministry of Agriculture Development (MoAD) MESSAGE FROM SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF FNCCI Ginger production is one of the main sources of cash income for small farmers of the mid-hills of Nepal and the return is significantly higher than that of cereals and vegetable crops. Ginger is known for its health benefits, medicinal purposes and widely used spice for cooking purposes. Because of its medicinal and economical value, demand of ginger has been increasing globally each year, which encouraged farmers to go for commercial farming. Recently, there has also been an increment in ginger production areas. Subsequently, ginger production has increased significantly and Nepal has become the world’s third largest producer of ginger after India and China. Despite its encouraging production, it has not been able to get competitive prices in the international market, mostly due to lack of value addition on fresh ginger before it is sold. Although farmers have keen interest on ginger cultivation, they are facing several constraints like shortage of improved variety, lack of storage facility, inadequate knowledge on disease management measures and prevalence of rhizome rot. In order to address all these problems, Nepal Ginger Producers and Traders Association (NGPTA) is actively involved in supporting ginger producers and traders in different forms. The preparation of this report in the collaboration with Samarth-NMDP is an initiative to provide useful information in a single document. I would like to congratulate both the organizations for preparing this valuable document. I hope, the information of the document will be useful for all the stakeholders that are involved in the ginger sector. Bhawani Rana Senior Vice President, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Chairperson, Agro Enterprise Centre (AEC) MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT OF NGPTA Ginger is one of the major cash crops of Nepal. Traditionally, ginger farming used to be done for household uses, but now it has emerged as a viable commercial product. The farmers, especially in the hills of Nepal, consider ginger as a major source of income. Even though ginger is a high value cash crop with market potential, the farmers involved in ginger farming face many challenges. Furthermore, the challenges of the sector are not only limited in the production level, but extends to different layers of the value chain. Some of the major constraints are limited availability of improved variety seeds, lack of seed storage facilities, inadequate knowledge on disease management measures, limited access to new technologies and market opportunities. These constraints hinder the development of the sector and need to be addressed in order to make sure we are in a position to meet the minimum global standards and secure exports to international markets. Only then, all market players in the value chain of ginger of Nepal, especially the farmers, can expect to receive competitive price for their produce. In order to address these problems, Nepal Ginger Producers and Traders Association (NGPTA) is always actively involved in supporting ginger producers and traders in different forms. I truly appreciate and would like to thank Samarth-NMDP for taking the initiative to prepare the “Nepal Ginger Profile 2016”. I hope, the information of the document will be beneficial to all the stakeholders of the sector, including producers, traders, policy makers, and other organizations directly or indirectly involved in the development of the ginger sector in Nepal. Narendra K Khadka President Nepal Ginger Producers and Traders Association (NGPTA) LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AEC Agro Enterprise Centre DADO District Agriculture Development Office DoA Department of Agriculture DoAE Directorate of Agricultural Engineering DFTQC Department of Food Technology and Quality Control EIF Enhanced Integrated Framework FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FNCCI Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry GPS Global Positioning System ha hectare KII Key Informant Interview masl meters above sea level MoAD Ministry of Agriculture Development MoCS Ministry of Commerce and Supplies MT Metric Ton NARC National Agriculture Research Council NGPTA Nepal Ginger Producers and Traders Association NGRP National Ginger Research Programme QEL Quality Evaluation Laboratory STDF Standards and Trade Development Facility VDC Village Development Committee v/w volume/weight w/w weight/weight CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Objectives 1 1.2 Limitations of the Study 1 2. METHODOLOGY 2 2.1 Sampling 2 2.2 Analysis of Physical Properties of Ginger Cultivar Samples 2 2.3 Drying Recovery of Ginger Cultivar Samples 4 2.4 Moisture Content in Dried Ginger Cultivar Samples 4 2.5 Analysis of Biochemical Properties of Ginger Cultivar Samples 4 PHYSICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF GINGER 5 RESEARCH FINDINGS 6 Physical Properties of Ginger Cultivar Samples 6 Biochemical Properties of Ginger Cultivar Samples 8 OVERVIEW OF GINGER CULTIVAR SAMPLE COLLECTION DISTRICTS 11 JHAPA 12 Cultivar ZI 1601 13 Cultivar ZI 1602 14 ILAM 15 Cultivar ZI 1603 16 Cultivar ZI 1604 17 PANCHTHAR 18 Cultivar ZI 1605 19 Cultivar ZI 1606 20 Cultivar ZI 1607 21 DHANKUTA 22 Cultivar ZI 1608 23 TERHATHUM 24 Cultivar ZI 1609 25 MORANG 26 Cultivar ZI 1610 27 DHADING 28 Cultivar ZI 1611 29 Cultivar ZI 1612 30 NUWAKOT 31 Cultivar ZI 1613 32 MAKWANPUR 33 Cultivar ZI 1614 34 Cultivar ZI 1615 35 NAWALPARASI 36 Cultivar ZI 1616 37 Cultivar ZI 1617 38 PALPA 39 Cultivar ZI 1618 40 SYANGJA 41 Cultivar ZI 1619 42 DANG 43 Cultivar ZI 1620 44 SURKHET 45 Cultivar ZI 1621 46 KAILALI 47 Cultivar ZI 1622 48 DOTI 49 Cultivar ZI 1623 50 Cultivar ZI 1625 51 DADELDHURA 52 Cultivar ZI 1624 53 SALYAN 54 Cultivar ZI 1626 55 Cultivar ZI 1627 56 Cultivar ZI 1628 57 DAILEKH 58 Cultivar ZI 1629 59 SINDHULI 60 Cultivar ZI 1630 61 NEPAL GINGER PROFILE 1. INTRODUCTION Nepal is the third largest ginger producer in the world with an annual production of approximately 250,000 MT1. Despite being rich in climatic conditions that is suitable for the production of quality ginger, the current production is far below its potential. Difficulties in accessing post-harvest technologies and lack of information about the quality of Nepalese indigenous ginger cultivars are some of the major constraints that needs to be addressed to bolster trade and marketing of ginger. 1.1 Objectives The objective of the research was to collect samples of commercially cultivated indigenous ginger cultivars from the major ginger producing districts and analyse their physical and biochemical properties to develop “Nepal Ginger Profile 2016”. The analysis of ginger cultivars was conducted on the following properties: a) physical2 and b) biochemical3. 1.2 Limitations of the study • Ginger production area in Nepal is scattered. Therefore, it was difficult to cover all the ginger cultivating districts owing to time-constraints and other resources.