T.M Awan
Islamabad, Dec 15 — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has achieved a major agricultural breakthrough with the successful harvest of its first-ever commercially grown ginger, marking a shift toward local production of a crop traditionally imported by Pakistan.
Landmark Event Celebrates Agricultural Milestone
The milestone harvest in Khyber District was celebrated at an event in Peshawar attended by officials of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agriculture Department, researchers from Agricultural Research System KP (ARS) and NARC Islamabad, district authorities, community elders, and local farmers.
Pilot Project Unlocks Billion-Rupee Potential
The pilot project demonstrated that high-quality ginger can be successfully cultivated in KP’s agro-climatic conditions, opening the door to what officials described as a potential billion-rupee opportunity for farmers in the region. Pakistan imported USD 42.7 million worth of ginger in 2023, underlining the economic significance of domestic production.
Training, Quality Seed and Climate Drive Success
According to officials, the success of the initiative was driven by a combination of factors, including access to quality seed through private-sector partners, hands-on training provided by FAO under its Farmer Field School approach, and continuous technical support from FAO, ARS KP and Agriculture Extension teams. The favourable soil and climate conditions of Bara, along with relatively low production costs, further contributed to the crop’s performance.
FAO Highlights Value Chain Collaboration
Speaking at the event, James Okoth, FAO’s Acting Representative in Pakistan, said the pilot highlighted the impact of coordinated efforts across the value chain. “When farmers receive good seed, proper training and timely technical guidance, and when the environment supports it, a new crop can take off. Ginger is now showing strong promise for Khyber and beyond,” he said.
Farmers Confident About Expansion
Farmers involved in the pilot expressed confidence in expanding cultivation in the coming seasons. One grower said FAO’s support throughout the planting and harvesting cycle had been crucial, adding that successful yields had encouraged farmers to share seed and knowledge with others in the community.
Economic and Social Benefits of Local Ginger
Officials noted that locally grown ginger offers multiple advantages, including higher farm incomes compared to traditional crops, reduced reliance on imports, and the creation of new rural value chains. The crop also presents opportunities for value addition, such as dried ginger, powder, pastes, and seed multiplication, with potential employment benefits for women and youth.
Plans to Scale Up Cultivation Across KP
Encouraged by the results, the KP Agriculture Department and FAO plan to scale up ginger cultivation to three additional merged districts, while also exploring related high-value crops such as turmeric. Future phases are expected to focus on strengthening local seed systems and establishing community-level processing units.
A New Chapter for Climate-Resilient Agriculture
The successful harvest marks what officials called a new chapter for farmers in Khyber, demonstrating that with the right technical support and partnerships, the district can transition toward climate-resilient, high-value agriculture and improved rural livelihoods.
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