Northern Territory ginger production trial fires up for second crop

After a highly successful first year of production, the greenhouse ginger project, a collaboration between the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade and Michael (Mic) Jakobi from NT Hay, Seed and Grain, is preparing for the second season in the three-year project.

The first year’s crop yielded over one tonne of ginger rhizomes from approximately 70kg of seed rhizome material of two varieties - Canton and Queensland Gold. The majority of the premium quality rhizomes from this crop will be used by Mic to go into the second rotation, while significantly upscaling the current production system from 550 bags to 3,500 bags. Mic will use an advanced and innovative growing system patented by the global company Galuku, which specialises in hydroponic production in coconut coir substrates.

Mic will focus more on the Canton variety in this second rotation as the first year’s harvest indicated that this variety is more suited to the consumer end-use market he is targeting. Mic has secured supply agreements with at least three local businesses, including Purple Mango Café and Brewery, One Mile Brewery and The Harvest Press, to produce products such as ginger beers and fresh juices.

Research questions around different sowing times and the potential for a perpetual harvest system will be the focus of the second year’s research, development and extension activities. Further refining of the nutrient and irrigation regimes developed in the initial stages of the project in 2020 with be undertaken.

If the first year’s production yield is anything to go by, Mic could potentially see over seven tonnes’ yield from the second crop in this bigger and better production system.