Ginger, the rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roscoe, is one of the most widely used spices from the family Zingiberaceae. India is the largest ginger-producing country in the world, with an annual production of 795,028 tonnes from an area of 138,479 ha during 2008–09 (Spices Board 2011). The field experiment on ginger was carried out in the Northern Hilly region of Chhattisgarh, focusing on the potential to substantially improve production and productivity, particularly in the Korea district. The study was conducted during the Kharif seasons in seven villages: Salka, Nagar, Umjhar, Tilwandad, Dakaipara, Bhandarpara, and Sonhat, under Baikunthpur and Sonhat blocks of Korea district. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Korea conducted front line demonstrations with an improved package of practices for ginger cultivation over two years (2015-16 and 2016-17) and achieved yields significantly higher than those obtained by farmers using traditional practices. The yield of ginger can be increased by demonstrating improved cultivation technology on farmers' fields under the supervision of KVK scientists. The average yield from 24 demonstrations over an area of 15 ha was found to be 265.3 q/ha, compared to 171.7 q/ha from existing practices. This represents an average yield increase of 54.20%, with an extension gap of 187.2 q/ha over two years. The demonstrations showed active participation of farmers, aiming to showcase the potential of improved vegetable production technologies. These technologies included the use of improved varieties, rhizome treatment with bio-culture, balanced fertilizer application, and pest management.
Research Article | Published online : 01-Aug-2024