Aizawl, Aug 25: The Mizoram government has procured more than 2 lakh quintal of ginger from local growers under its flagship Bana Kaih (Handholding) scheme since January, a minister told the state assembly on Tuesday. The government also said it has released the full support-price amount of ₹192.63 crore for ginger procured across 2025 and 2026.
Procurement and payments so far
In a written reply to a query during the monsoon session, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister PC Vanlalruata reported that procurement up to 18 August stood at 2,00,481.55 quintals of ginger for the current year. The minister said ₹141.50 crore was paid in 2025, while ₹51.13 crore has been disbursed for purchases made this year.
“There are no outstanding support-price payments pending with the government,” the minister said, adding that the total amount has been credited to the DAMC account and is being transferred to farmers’ bank accounts.
What the money covers and how it is being transferred
The state clarified that the entire support-price funding for ginger procurement has already been deposited into the designated Depositor Account (DAMC). From there the funds are being routed to the bank accounts of the eligible farmers, the minister informed the House.
Ginger is the chief crop in Mizoram’s procurement drive and was named the “Ginger Capital of India” by NITI Aayog in 2025. The Bana Kaih scheme, launched in September 2024, provides a guaranteed minimum support price for five priority crops: ginger, turmeric, chilli, broomsticks and unhusked rice (paddy).
Budgetary allocation and programme scale
The government has earmarked ₹350 crore for the implementation of Bana Kaih in 2026-27, with ₹150 crore specifically allocated for procurement of the five key crops. The purchase of ginger constitutes a major portion of the procurement activity so far this year.
| Item | Amount/Quantity |
|---|---|
| Ginger procured (2026, up to 18 Aug) | 2,00,481.55 quintals |
| Support price released in 2025 | ₹141.50 crore |
| Support price released in 2026 (so far) | ₹51.13 crore |
| Total released for 2025-26 | ₹192.63 crore |
| Budget for Bana Kaih (2026-27) | ₹350 crore (₹150 crore for five crops) |
Policy background and local implications
The Bana Kaih initiative emerged from the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) election promise to bolster farm incomes by guaranteeing procurement and minimum support prices (MSP) for selected local crops. By institutionalising state procurement for ginger and others, the government aims to stabilise prices, reduce distress sales and support rural livelihoods.
For farmers, the principal benefits are price assurance and quicker access to payments through bank transfers. The minister’s assurance that no payments are pending is intended to allay concerns over delayed disbursals that can disrupt household finances during harvest periods.
- Who benefits: Ginger growers and producers of the four other specified crops—turmeric, chilli, broomsticks and paddy.
- Scale: Over 2 lakh quintal of ginger bought in less than eight months highlights strong programme uptake.
- Funding: Dedicated budget for procurement in 2026-27 signals continued policy support.
What remains to watch
Key questions for the months ahead include whether procurement will be sustained across the full financial year, how effectively the DAMC-to-bank transfer process reaches smallholders, and whether the scheme prompts any shifts in cropping patterns. The state’s allocation for procurement and the minister’s assurance on payments will be closely watched by farmers’ groups and political rivals alike.
While the figures provided on Tuesday cover purchases and payments through mid-August, detailed district-wise procurement data, the number of beneficiary farmers and timelines for remaining disbursals were not included in the written reply to the assembly and may be sought in subsequent sessions.
For now, the government says it has met the immediate financial commitments for ginger procurement and is continuing transfers to farmers’ accounts from the DAMC pool.
