| Detergent powder is being widely used for cleaning and adding colour has also increased to alarming levels, according to sources. Traders fear the practice might result in rejection of Indian products in the overseas markets. They call for urgent intervention of the government to curtail the practice. |
| A trader here said a major chunk of dried ginger marketed in north India is fumigated and bleached with toxic chemicals, which might even cause serious health hazards. |
| After cleaning, ginger is dried under direct sunlight, then fumigated with sulphur during night and the process continues for 5-8 days. Then comes the most dangerous step in processing: washing with popular brands of detergent powder which will render an attractive white colour to dried ginger. |
| Earlier, washing was done with lime water or sodium bi-carbonate water. But for the last few years, detergents have become more popular. |
| Ginger thus processed is being exported to countries such as Saudi Arabia and Moroco as these countries prefer products with better white colour, the trader said. |
| Europe and the US had banned products which contain above 40 PPM of sulphur di-oxide and so India has not been an active exporter to these places. However, annual exports to these countries are to the tune of 5,000-6,000 tonne. |
| Experts say in most of the dried ginger produced in this part of the country sulphur di-oxide content is at 200-600 PPM. Sometimes, it has even touched the very dangerous 800 PPM level. |
| Meanwhile, harvesting has already begun in Karnataka and total ginger production is expected to be at 700,000 tonne and that of dried ginger is expected to be at 15,000 tonne. |
| The trader said average price is now at Rs 11,000-11,500 a quintal. However, a drop is likely as season in Kerala will become active in a few weeks' time. |
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