Aizawl: The Mizoram government informed the Assembly on Thursday that it has purchased more than 3.45 lakh quintals of ginger worth Rs. 95.28 crore from farmers under its flagship Bana Kaih (handholding) scheme but managed to generate only Rs. 12.78 crore through sales.
Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister PC Vanlalruata, while replying to queries during the ongoing monsoon session, said the procurement was carried out between January 20 and June 30 this year to provide price support to cultivators.
The government bought ginger at Rs. 50 per kg through designated secondary collection centres, later selling the produce to companies via an auction system favouring the highest bidders.
Despite the massive procurement, the minister admitted that only a fraction of the expenditure could be recovered.
He also pointed out challenges during the process, including reports of non-ginger farmers allegedly sourcing ginger from Myanmar to sell to the government for profit.
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Vanlalruata assured the House that the remaining Rs. 45 crore in payments to farmers would be released soon and added that the state has sought assistance from the Centre under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).
The Bana Kaih programme, launched in September 2024, was a major electoral promise of the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM).
It covers the procurement of five crops — ginger, turmeric, chilli, broomsticks, and unhusked rice.
For the 2025–26 fiscal year, the government has earmarked Rs. 350 crore for the scheme, marking a 75 percent hike from Rs. 200 crore in the previous financial year.
