Two Ways To Plant & Grow Ginger

Ahmedkutty; a farmer in Kozhikode district of Kerala (India), is experimenting 'protray ginger transplanting technology' in his polyhouse. This new technology proposes reduced use of seed material and a disease free ginger cultivation. The two main problems of commercial ginger cultivation are the high price of seed material and threat from diseases. Protray transplanting technology proposes a solution for these two problems. This experiment is successfully conducting in the polyhouse of Mr.  Ahmedkutty at Adivaram, Kozhikode. The core element of this technology is cutting the ginger rhizomes into small pieces of single bud and germinate in protrays or cups containing fortified media. The protrays are filled with media of vermicompost or coir-pith mixed with cow dung. 40 days old plants can be transplanted to grow bag, sack or raised beds. RAHUL: The first step in this technology is to cut the rhizomes into small pieces of single bud. RAHUL: This can be done using strilized knifes or blades. RAHUL: Such single bud cuttings are used as planting materials. RAHUL: The potting mixure should be filled upto half of the tray. RAHUL: The single buds should be planted in half filled trays.
     After that, again add come more potting miture and gently press four sides to fix it firmely, without damaging the buds. RAHUL: This process will help us to unplug the plants with the root system at the time of transplantation. RAHUL: Also, it will avoid root damage and transplantation shock.
      The plants can be transplanted after 30-35 days of growth. The most salient feature of this technology is the reduced amount of seed material up to 1/3rd. In convention method of ginger cultivation, 1 hectare needs 1500-2000 Kg of seed material. But using this technology 500 Kg of seed material is sufficient to produce seedlings for 1 hectare.             The main problem in ginger cultivation is said to be lack of quality seed material, mean time the high requirement of seed material.
 In convention method of ginger cultivation, 1500-2000 Kg of seed material is required for 1 hectare.
 This technology is developed from a thought to make a change to such a situation by reducing the seed requirement.
Here, we are reducing the seed amount up to 1/3, that is, 500 Kg/hectare. Another important highlight of protray technology is 3 stage disease control. First we can make sure that the seed material is disease free. Secondly, during the growth phase in protray or cups, if a plant shows any disease symptom, the plant can be removed. Finally, if a plant in grow bag or sack shows any disease incidence, it can be removed and disease spreading can be avoided.

•       Here, we are doing three stage disease screening.  First; we select disease free seeds.
•       Second; we remove diseased plants in protray growing stage. 
•       Third; If we are growing in bags, diseased plants can be removed as such and disease spreading can be avoided. 

So we can produce 100% disease free Ginger.
 The same technology can applied in case of Turmeric too. Conventionally, commercial cultivation of Ginger is flooded with chemical fertilizers and pesticides. But in protray transplanting technology, this can be avoided. Drip irrigation can be used to irrigate and give fertilizers in minimum quantity. If we remove the disease plants at the right time, pesticide application can be avoided.
 Pescticide usage was negligible here.
 Because the diseased plants were removed and there was no disease spread.
 Unlike field planting, here, the pesticide usage can be reduced drastically.  The main advantages of this technology.
 Fertilizer supply can be controlled and limited with the use of drip irrigation facility. RAHUL: Each plant will be supplied with sufficient fertilizers, which makes the fertilizer usage more efficient. Polyhouse or Rain shelter is not necessary to practice this technology. Large scale farmers can adopt this technology to their fields. Large scale farmers will easily get benefited with the small requirement of seeds. Mr.  Ahmmedkutti tried this technology after the cultivation of many other vegetable crops in his polyhouse.
First I tried cucumber here.   Even after 4 crop seasons, cucumber was not a success for me.  The up coming seasons were worst.
 So I searched for another crop which is more suitable.
 Then I came to know about this technology from my friend Dr.  Y.  R.  Sarma. Here the polyhouse was converted to a rain shelter by opening the side nets. Ahmmedkutti says the experiment is a success and we will move forward by correcting our mistakes in this crop season.
 It was successful, even though we made some mistakes.
 We look forward to correct ourself and go ahead and hope new things will learn in new cycles.
 Its in a success path, and I think it will become a method of cultivation soon. 2 Kg weighted rhizomes were produced under experimental conditions. The rhizome weight can be even increased under commercial cultivation. These are the 3 main things should keep in mind, if you wish to follow this technology. 1.  Selection of disease free seed material. 2.  Plants with disease symptoms should be removed. 3.  Transplant the seedlings without damaging the root system as well as the plant.
Thank you for red see you with the experience farmers good