Northern Territory spices things up by trailing ginger crops

A GINGER growing trial in a Darwin nursery has the Top End poised to become a major player in Australia’s ginger market

A LOCAL ginger growing trial in a Darwin nursery has the Top End poised to become a major player in Australia’s ginger market.

The man leading the trial, farmer Mic Jakobi, is reporting excellent results and says farmers are already putting their hands up to take the trial to a much larger scale on their properties.

Mr Jakobi is working with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade to determine if ginger stacks up as a new crop to be grown in the Territory.

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Minister for Agribusiness and Aquaculture Nicole Manison is closely following his work.

“This is the start of what we expect to be a three-year trial and so far the results are going really well,” Ms Manison said.

“Ginger and Mic’s work represents an exciting opportunity to diversify the agriculture sector further in the Territory.”

Such has been Mr Jakobi’s success, he believes the Territory can establish a disease-free ginger industry, which could lead to premium prices for clean seed ginger – up to $25kg.

Ironstone Lagoon nursery Ginger growing trial, Nicole Manison and grower Michael Jakobi . Picture Katrina Bridgeford.

The trial focuses on the production of two varieties, Queensland Gold and Canton.

The Australian ginger Industry has a farm-gate value of $32m and is currently concentrated in south east Queensland.

The preliminary results from the Darwin trial indicate the potential value from a hectare of greenhouse space of ginger is approximately $175,000.

“I am hoping to grow commercial quantities for consumption, but we need to deliver these trials and earn a reputation for clean, green, disease-free ginger first,” Mr Jakobi said.

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“Early indications are that there is definitely some potential there for industry.

“We’ve recently gone to another level with a Katherine grower that is looking to get involved.

“They are a big horticulture producer in Katherine and I will assist them with their project.

“Within 12 months the program has expanded to include other growers so things are going well. This represents a shift from seasonal to year round cropping.”