Kerala: Ginger farmers ask time to repay loans

KALPETTA: The ginger farmers have demanded the state and Central governments to extend financial relief to those who went bankrupt due to price crash and crop loss due to acute drought in Karnataka. There are more than 18,000 ginger farmers from Wayanad engaged in farming in Karnataka for the last many years. The price crash of cash crops and the quick wilt disease that devastated the pepper farms of Wayanad forced them to explore the possibilities of ginger farming in the neighbouring state.

Kerala Ginger Growers’ Association general secretary Navrang Mohanan said the diminishing rainfall, depleting levels of groundwater and dried up tubewells had hit hard. “We don’t want a write-off of our loans but some relaxation in loan repayments and also ensuring new short-term crop loans,” Mr Mohanan said. The organisation has already submitted memorandums to Prime Minister and chief minister on this.