𝐆𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬

…𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒙 𝒐𝒇 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔

By Sonam Choden

In recent years, ginger producers in the southern parts of Bhutan have faced a significant drop in farm-gate prices, falling from Nu 60 per kilogram in the previous year to Nu 15–25 per kilogram in the current season. The decline has been attributed primarily to the influx of high-quality Bangalore ginger in neighboring Indian markets. This downturn has impacted rural incomes, with many farmers reporting production costs around Nu 45 per kilogram. As a result, several farmers are choosing not to harvest their crops when prices fall below the cost of production.

Between March and June 2025, Bhutan exported a total of 220.3 metric tonnes of ginger through the Phuentsholing gateway, generating approximately Nu 2.4 million in revenue. Export volumes were highest in March with 94 metric tonnes valued at Nu 0.70 million. Shipments declined in April and May, followed by a modest rebound to 46.1 metric tonnes in June, generating Nu 0.77 million. Despite ongoing exports, per-kilogram revenue remains considerably lower than last year.

Prem Prasad Katel, Gup of Gelephu, expressed the concerns of farmers in his locality. “Since there is no proper marketplace where the farmers can market their ginger, people are losing interest in cultivating it,” he said. He noted that this lack of infrastructure is discouraging continued production. “Farmers are now only cultivating for self-consumption, leaving only four to five households doing large-scale production,” he added. The gap between market access and production capacity has made commercial ginger farming less viable.

Similarly, Tham Bdr Rai, Gup of Logchina Gewog in Chukha District, reported that farmers in previous seasons had been able to sell ginger at Nu 130 to 150 per kilogram. However, prices dropped sharply this season to Nu 7–15 per kilogram, with a recent recovery to around Nu 20–28 per kilogram.

To address the challenges, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL) has introduced several interventions to stabilise prices and improve market access. “Domestically, partnerships with Bhutan Naturals and Khengrig Namsum Cooperative have opened alternative outlets, offering Nu 35 per kilogram and Nu 28 per kilogram respectively. While these mechanisms cannot yet absorb full production volumes, they provide much-needed price support for farmers,” said Lyonpo Younten Phuntsho, Minister for MoAL.

He also highlighted international efforts to diversify markets. “Internationally, Bhutan is expanding its export strategy by targeting new markets such as Bangladesh and Malaysia,” he said. The Ministry is preparing producers to meet the quality and consistency standards required for these markets. In support of this strategy, a Bhutan Outlet is scheduled to open in Guwahati, India, by the end of June 2025, aimed at improving regional market presence for Bhutanese agricultural products.

The Ministry is also developing a long-term framework focused on strengthening sector resilience and diversifying products. Collective farming models are being promoted to ensure stable production and quality while enabling business-to-business connections through embassies, trade fairs, and digital platforms. In addition, efforts are being made to build local capacity for post-harvest processing such as drying, milling, and packaging. These steps are intended to add value, extend shelf life, and improve income for farmers.

Plans are also underway to introduce a National Price Information and Forecasting System to provide timely market data to farmers and traders. This tool will help guide production and marketing decisions. Policy measures to improve export competitiveness include the introduction of quality assurance protocols, grading systems, and packaging standards tailored to regional market requirements. These efforts are being supported by strengthened extension services to enhance cultivation methods and improve product quality.

Together, these short- and long-term initiatives aim to support price stability, encourage value addition, and create better market opportunities for Bhutanese ginger. By focusing on institutional support, quality improvements, and expanded market access, the Ministry seeks to restore confidence in ginger as a viable crop for farming communities.
The continued viability of ginger production will depend on the successful implementation of these plans. Real progress will require expanding market interventions, strengthening farmer groups, and maintaining consistent quality standards. With these measures in place, ginger could once again become a reliable source of income for rural producers and contribute to Bhutan’s agricultural development.