Mrs.Omana Kaithakkulath, popularly known as ‘Ginger Woman’ in Chempanoda village of Perambra block, Calicut district, Kerala has a special interest for ginger cultivation. Four years ago, she stepped in to the field with the technical support provided by ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Peruvannamuzhi in Calicut district. She grows ginger in gunny bags by using the methods of organic agriculture. She keeps gunny bags on a patch of land, spreading over 2.5 cents, which would have been otherwise a waste land. According to Mrs. Omana, pro-tray (filled with coir-pith, dry cow dung and Trichoderma) raised seedlings by using cut rhizomes of 5 gram weight with one sprout is a good seed material to start with. Plentiful availability of sunlight, irrigation water and timely application of manures are the prime reasons for the better growth of ginger.
Ginger variety, IISR Varada was planted during the second week of May 2015 in 300 bags and harvested in the last week of January 2016. She could harvest 108 kg fresh ginger from 4 kg planting materials during this season. Each seed had a weight of 20 g. To her, field level training, periodic visits, quality planting materials and marketing support of scientists from KVK helps in successful harvest of ginger.
And now, she has become a trainer also at KVK for fellow farmers. She also cultivates black pepper, various intercrops, fruit trees etc. Mrs.Omana is maintaining and culturing ornamental fishes, earthworms and series of birds as per guidance and suggestion of KVK, Calicut. She has developed, “Nutmeg rind candy”, “Garcinia rind paste” and “dry ginger”, innovative and successful value added spice products.
(Source: ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode)
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