Ginger cultivation and processing methods

Production technology of ginger is well defined

1. PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY OF GINGER

2. GINGER  ( Zingiber officinale ) India is the largest producer of dry ginger (23%) in the world India produces 885.33 thousand tons of ginger annually. Area under cultivation in India is about 63,000. ha The average productivity is about 3 tones/ha. Ginger is native to India and China. The rhizomes contains gingerol (oleo resin) -accounts for the characteristic aroma and therapeutic properties. 2

3. USES OF GINGER  Chocolate Chip Cookies Ginger Candy Ginger Tea Sliced fresh Ginger 3

4. Varieties Varieties for intercrop in coconut plantation : IISR- Rejatha Athira Maran Rio de Janeiro 4 Varieties of Ginger in India      High dry ginger Maran, Nadia, and Karakkal    High oleoresin Ernad Chernad, China, and Rio-De-Janeiro      High volatile oil Sleeva Local, Narasapattam , and Himachal Green ginger Rio-De-Janeiro, China, Wynad Local, Maran, and Varadha

5. Climate & Soil Season: May-June. Soil : loamy soil pH range :6.5 Annual rainfall : 150cm Altitude: 1500m from MSL 5

6. Seed rate 1500 - 1800kg of rhizome/ha. Seed treatment Treat the seed rhizomes with mancozeb or copper oxychloride 3 g/lit or 200 ppm streptocycline for 30 minutes 6

7. Spacing Irrigated crop – 40 x 20 cm in ridges and furrows. Rainfed crop – Raised beds of 20 x 20 cm or 25x 25 cm 7

8. Planting Ginger is propagated by portions of rhizomes known as seed rhizomes. Seed rhizomes are cut into small pieces of 2.5-5.0 cm length weighing 20-25 g each having one or two good buds . The seed rhizome bits are placed in shallow pits prepared with a hand hoe and covered with well rotten farm yard manure and a thin layer of soil and leveled. 8

9. Manuring At the time of planting, well decomposed cattle manure or compost @ 25-30 tonnes /ha Fertilizer recommendation: 75 :50 :50 kg per ha. 9

10. Inter Cultivation Earthing up @ 45 and 90 DAP is essential to prevent exposure of rhizomes and provide sufficient soil volume for free development of rhizomes. 10

11. Harvesting The crop is ready for harvest in about 8 months (dry ginger) after planting when the leaves turn yellow, and start drying up gradually . The clumps are lifted carefully with a spade or digging fork, and the rhizomes are separated from the dried up leaves, roots and adhering soil . Vegetable ginger: 6 th - 9 th month ; rhizomes are thoroughly washed in water and sun-dried for a day. 11

12. Dry ginger Rhizomes are soaked in water for 6-7 hours Rhizomes are rubbed well to clean the extraneous matter After cleaning, the rhizomes are removed from water and the outer skin is removed with bamboo splinters having pointed ends . Peeled rhizomes are washed and dried in sun uniformly for 1 week Dry rhizomes are rubbed together to get rid of the last bit of skin or dirt 12

13. Storage of Seed rhizomes Healthy & disease free seed rhizomes are stored in pits of convenient size in sheds. Walls of the pits may be coated with cow dung paste. The seed rhizomes are placed in pits in layers along with well dried sand/saw dust (put one layer of seed rhizomes, then put 2 cm thick layer of sand/saw dust ). Sufficient gap is to be left at the top of the pits for adequate aeration. The pits can be covered with wooden planks with one or two small openings for aeration . Storage in saw dust + dried leaves of Strychnos nuxvomica prevents infestation of rhizome scale. 13