Importers found under-invoicing Chinese ginger
The Hindu Business Line, Sep 22, 2009
According to market sources in Khari Baoli (Chandni Chowk), some were importing
Chinese dry ginger after under invoicing, though the Centre had reduced the import duty
to 35 per cent from 70 per cent. The police and customs are said to have taken samples of
the imported material. Trading sources in Delhi, Kochi and Bangalore told that Chinese
ginger is fully peeled and dipped in a toxic solution to increase shelf life without
infestation and to give it a good appearance. Indian ginger, on the other hand, is partially
peeled and dipped in lime solution, which is not harmful for human consumption. With
the reduction in duty, Indian ginger is losing its position even in the domestic market,
leaving Chinese, Ethiopean and Nigerian ginger to capture market share. The stocks have
been exhausted with the end of the season, said sources. The spices oils and oleoresin
extraction units are importing ginger, especially from Ethiopia and Nigeria, reportedly at
$700 to $800.
This unique variety - with its low fibre content, special aroma and pungency - is mainly
grown in Kerala and the bordering States. The price of the ginger has now gone up
almost three-folds due to short supply. On an average, Indian export of ginger was about
8 per cent of the domestic production. India is the largest producer of ginger in the world
with 3.91 lakh tonnes from 1, 10,600 hectares in 2005-06, with a yield of 3,537 kg a
hectare. But in terms of area, Nigeria and China are on top. The officials have told that
adulteration of imported cloves, which are allegedly of inferior quality, with spent cloves
and stems obtained from extraction units has also come to the notice of the authorities in
the capital. Stems are dipped in a solution to make its colour black and then sprayed with
clove essence/oil so as to give it the aroma, market.