Career Change, Make Your Own Drink & Illegal Farming

Last month I wrote about the ginger crop damage caused by wild boar in the Darjeeling region of India. These attacks have now become that widespread across the country that the state of Kerala is taking drastic action to protect its very important agricultural industry. The Hindu has reported that a one-year trial in five districts will start shortly which will allow wild boar to be shot by forest rangers. Guidelines to be issued this week will prevent indiscriminate killing by, for example, protecting mothers with suckling boars.

Here is an interesting report for anyone considering a career as a ginger farmer. Although the report is 13 years old, based on the Hawaiian ginger industry and with all costs in US dollars, I still think that there is enough useful information to set any aspiring farmer on the right track.

Back in April we wrote that the US Agency for International Development was giving Nepal $30m in aid to improve, amongst other things, ginger exports. Now The Himalayan Times has reported that the European Commission is planning to send 9m Euros to be used by the Nepal Trade Integration Strategy on a range of products including ginger. I wonder whether this latest aid programme means that we will see Nepalese ginger here in Europe?

Some states in southern India are currently in the grip of a cholera outbreak. One area in particular which has been hit badly is the Wayanad district of Kerala. This is a hilly area populated by a large number of indigenous tribes with a high dependence on agricultural work. With work hard to find, many tribesmen migrate temporarily to the neighbouring state of Karnataka. It is believed that it is these workers returning home from the ginger farms in Hassan and Courg who are carrying and spreading the disease. In an effort to combat the disease, the health authorities are placing whole tribes under surveillance. Let's hope that this is brought under control as soon as possible.

Have a look at this academic study into the development and characterisation of a carbonated ginger drink in Nigeria. You may find that you'll want to have a go at home.

Malaysian forestry officials are facing a serious problem as they attempt to manage the Kuala Langat South Peat Swamp Forest Reserve. More than 200 farmers have cleared 2,000ha and planted a range of crops including ginger. The Star, one of Malaya's largest circulation English-language newspapers, reported one forestry official claiming that some of the farmers are now ringgit millionaires. When farmers are evicted the officials plant saplings to re-populate the area. Amazingly, the farmers return, spray the saplings with poison and re-plant their crops. A major headache which I'm glad that I don't have.