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Ginger

Ginger is a spice with a strong taste that finds its origin in Asia. There, young, fresh ginger is often eaten as a vegetable. The most common form of ginger used throughout the world is dried and ground into powder. The spicy root of the ginger plant is a good seasoner not only used in many dishes, but also in tea and coffee and for medicinal purposes. Ginger is often grown by small family companies in countries like India, China, Indonesia and Nigeria. The plant thrives there thanks to the humid and hot climate.

Did you know…

  • Pregnant women in China take ginger to cure morning sickness

  • In India, a paste of ginger is rubbed on the temples against headaches

Most important export countries

  1. China
  2. Thailand
  3. Nepal
  4. India
  5. Netherlands

Most important production countries

  1. India
  2. China
  3. Indonesia
  4. Nepal
  5. Nigeria

Production chain

Ginger roots germinate well under moderate rains. Fresh ginger is six months of age, while the dried variety is two to three months older. Processing mainly takes place in the importing countries. This is often done by spice manufacturers.

Problems

Small farmers that produce ginger have difficulties in making a living wage. The price of unprocessed ginger on the world market is very unstable and prices fluctuate heavily. Ginger is also susceptible to serious disease problems. Farmers can lose up to 80% of the crop towards the end of the crop cycle. The unpredictability of the profit makes it hard to earn a living on ginger production. One ton of ginger, can produce 4 – 7,6 tons of wastewater. Use of pesticides in ginger cultivation can also cause damage to people and the environment.

Major Chain Issues

In the ginger sector, Fairfood International has identified the following major chain issues:

Major chain Production stage
Water Mismanagement and Contamination Production & Processing
Harmful Agricultural or Aquafarming Practices Production
Insufficient Income and Income Insecurity Production
Insufficient market-related infrastructures Processing

Solutions

The guide below shows certification schemes whose standards indicate a match with some or all of Fairfood’s researched major issues for this commodity. To learn more about the schemes, click on their logo.


Fairtrade
Global Gap
IMO Fair for Life

Production
Production
Production