ISLAMABAD, Jan 12 (INP): Collaboration with Chinese scientists through China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) program can help successful cultivation of ginger in Pakistan, says a report published by Gwadar Pro on Wednesday.

“A team of scientists including breeders, soil scientists, economists could be set up to develop new ginger varieties suitable for the local environment”, according to Pakistan Planning Commission’s ‘Cluster Development Based Agriculture Transformations Plan Vision- 2025’.

It also suggested that certain tracts in Mansehrah district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province can perhaps suitably meet the ginger cultivation requirements.

The pH level of the soil in the district is around 6.8 and it has a large tract of sloppy lands suitable for ginger cultivation. The temperature and humidity level of the district during March-May remains in a reasonable range suitable for ginger cultivation.

A Chinese survey in the past also substantiated these claims. Due to the negligence of policy makers on the improvement of the ginger value chain, ginger production in Pakistan has dried down, and the country now completely relies on its imports by spending over US$70 million per annum.

The export of processed ginger from Pakistan, which is mainly re-exported, does not compensate for its high imports. As a result, trade deficit is ballooning overtime because of the consumers' increasing preference for ginger consumption, dwindled ginger supply from domestic sources and the increase in import prices.

According to statistics, global production of ginger recorded in 2019 was 4.1 million tons. India leads global production; however, China topped the world exports. China's ginger cultivation area is about 30.000 hectares, with a total yield of harvested produce of more than 2 million tons.

The world export of ginger reached US$855.0 million in 2017, which is growing at the rate of 17% per annum. The top importers of ginger are the USA and Pakistan.

Pakistan imports ginger mainly from China, Thailand and India. Being a neighboring and friendly country of Pakistan, it is most feasible for Pakistan to import ginger from China.

Recently, Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali, chairman of Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) with the senator Dr. Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, inaugurated the first ever ginger cultivation during the ginger harvest workshop at Balkasar Chakwal.