Ginger price highest in 5 years, Mong people earn hundreds of millions

(Baonghean.vn) - Having fallen miserably in price for 5 consecutive years, recently, the price of ginger in Ky Son district has...has recovered to a fairly high level at 10,000 VND/kg.

People in Dong village, Tay Son commune harvest ginger. Photo: Ho Phuong

Early October is the beginning of the ginger harvest season for people in the remote Ky Son district. In Buoc Mu village, Na Ngoi commune, the working atmosphere of ginger diggers is quite urgent. Almost 87 households in this village have ginger gardens. Mr. Xong Chong Cha alone has up to 25 hectares.

“Last year, his family earned 160 million VND from selling ginger” – An official of Na Ngoi commune informed and added that the price of ginger in the 2016 crop was only 3,000 VND – 4,000 VND. Meanwhile, the current price of ginger sold in the village is 10,000 VND, 2 to 3 times higher than the previous crop. The output of 2016 in Na Ngoi commune alone was more than 5,000 tons of ginger.

Mr. Xong Chong Cha said that the ginger crop has just begun, so he does not know the output and income of his family. If ginger prices remain at the current level, his family could earn up to half a billion VND.

Ginger prices in 2017 increased the most in the past 5 years. Photo: Huu Vi

With a vast ginger plantation spanning a hill, Mr. Chong Cha has to hire up to 40 workers each ginger harvest season.

Not only in Buoc Mu village but also in most of the 19 villages in Na Ngoi commune, ginger is grown. Nam Can is also a commune that grows a lot of ginger in Ky Son with over 200 hectares. Recently, the Ky Son district government has implemented a ginger growing model in Keo Luc 1 and Keo Luc 2 villages, Pha Danh commune with a scale of 2.4 hectares with the participation of 5 Thai households.

The recovery of ginger prices is really a joy for ginger growers in Ky Son. However, ginger growers in Ky Son are still not assured. During the period from 2011 to now, ginger prices have always fluctuated erratically. Initially, ginger prices reached nearly 20,000 VND/kg, then dropped sharply to 3,000 VND - 5,000 VND/kg. At some points, ginger prices have increased to 8,000 VND/kg.

The price of 10,000 VND per kg of ginger is the highest in 5 years. However, according to Xong Ba Denh, an official of Na Ngoi commune, the output and price of ginger in Na Ngoi mostly depends on private traders.

“Traders from Luu Kien commune and Hoa Binh town, Tuong Duong district come to buy. The price is decided by them.” – Mr. Xong Ba Denh said.

Traders buy ginger in Ky Son district. Photo by Huu Vi

The recovery in ginger prices is said to be due to a decrease in ginger imports from China and northern provinces.

Huu Vi - Ho Phuong