The Ginger Economy of Kerala - Dyuthi Home - Cochin University of ...

secondary data. The sources of secondary data were Spices Board, Kochi,
Department of Economics and Statistics, Trivandrum. Directorate of Cocoa,
Arecanut and Spices, Calicut, and published literature.
Cost of cultivation and profitability of ginger in major producing districts
of Kerala, price spread of ginger and its substitute crops, problems of ginger
cultivation and problems of ginger export have been studied with primary data.
The main sources of primary data were farmers, traders and exporters. A
sample survey was conducted to elicit information from the above sources.
The two major ginger producing districts of Kerala, viz., Wynad and
Emakulam which together account for about 54% of area under ginger in Kerala
were selected for a detailed study. From these two districts, Sultans Battery
and Kothamangalam were selected as the major ginger producing taluk. Then,
three panchayats which have maximum area under ginger from each taluk were
chosen. Thus Meenangadi, Ambalavayal and Pulpalli panchayats from Sultans
Battery taluk and Kavalangad, Pothanicad and Paingottoor from Kothamangalam
taluk were selected. Finally, ginger farmers were selected. Ginger farmers
were defined as those who cultivate ginger for commercial purpose.
For the selection of farmers in each panchayat, a list of ginger farmers
was prepared with the help of records available with local Krishi Bhavans. To
have adequate representation of all groups, the holdings of the selected area
were classified into three strata, ie., small (less than 0.4 hectares) medium (0.4
to 2 hectares) and large (above 2 hectares). From each panchayat a random
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