Nepal: Ginger traders face non-tariff barriers

14/11/2014 12:00 - 500 Views

KATHMANDU: As Nepal is world’s third-largest ginger producer, efforts should be focused on fetching better export price, experts said today.

Nepali ginger in export market, mainly in India and Bangladesh, has been facing problems of non-tariff barriers like sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures due to exporters’ carelessness since ginger is exported in unwashed forms, according to Purusottam Ojha, former commerce secretary, “Ginger can fetch better price if it is exported in better packaging as well as in a processed form.”

Speaking at a programme titled ‘Non Tariff Barriers on Exporting Ginger’, organised by South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE) today, Ojha informed Nepal contributes 13 per cent of world’s total ginger production, but due to lack of marketing in international market, Nepal is largely dependent on Bangladesh and India to export ginger.

“The government should facilitate the establishment of a well equipped storehouse where producers can store their products and also provide support for buying processing equipment,” Ojha said, adding, “If that happens, farmers will not incur more losses and they can sell their products at competitive rates.”

Ojha also stressed on getting the Nepali laboratory accredited by a globally recognised laboratory, so that the quality certificate issued by the Nepali lab would be accepted globally.

Executive Chairperson of SAWTEE Posh Raj Pandey stressed that the establishment of a mechanism to address problems among the business associations of the exporting and importing countries can be fruitful to reduce non-tariff barriers.

Toya Narayan Gyawali, joint secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS), said that the ministry has been supporting the whole value chain process of ginger production and its processing. Likewise, President of Ginger Producers’ Association Narendra Khadka stressed on better marketing of ginger in the international market and sought government support to set up a storehouse.

The government is also preparing to register the trademark of ginger in the domestic and international markets to brand the product. Ginger is also included in the Nepal Trade Integration Strategy 2010 as a product having a competitive edge.

Source: The Himalayan Times