Ministry of Agriculture sets target for Ginger industry

The Ginger industry is earning about $6.7 million a year but the Ministry of Agriculture is targeting around $8 to $9 million in the next few years.

Deputy Secretary Agriculture Development Uraia Waibuta said with the second consignment of local ginger already exported to Australia, the Ministry’s major priority is that the suppliers meet all the requirements from Biosecurity Australia.

Waibuta said a team lead by the Permanent Secretary Ropate Ligairi are leaving for Australia today to do a soft launch to potential ginger markets in Sydney.

Waibuta said right now they are only working with two suppliers because they want to have some control in meeting the requirements.

Waibuta said they are more concerned on the buying price which is suitable at the moment to start the farmers off in the mature market.

The first consignment of half a tonne of locally produced fresh mature ginger was exported to Australia late last month.