Traders of lower Assam district alleged that despite farmers selling ginger at the markets of Romram, Dadang, and Damal in Garo hills in Meghalaya, buyers from Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Barpeta and Dhubri hardly get any opportunity to buy it from the markets.
“We are able to buy only from non-farming groups (syndicates) which charge high prices from us citing payment of hefty amount to local criminals and militants. We have to purchase ginger at Rs 90 per kg there in Garo hills and add the cost of transportation and our profit. So, we sell it at Rs 120 to Rs 140 per kg in the wholesale market,” a trader said.
Retailers in the market alleged that this is not seasonal rise of price of ginger. Huge quantities of ginger are hoarded by the syndicates and they sell them at a high price to wholesalers, they alleged.
The retailers then have no option but to sell it between Rs 200 and Rs 240 as the commodity is a perishable one, Sadin Ghose, a retailer in Dhubri market, said.
Ginger sold for Rs 40 to Rs 60 per kg last year. It rose to Rs 100 in October after which prices refused to climb down, retailers of Bongaigaon, Barpeta and Goalpara said.