A guide to good agricultural practices for commercial production of ginger under field conditions in Jamaica

Book excerpt: A guide to good agricultural practices for commercial production of ginger under field conditions in Jamaica introduces the utilization of the single bud technology in field production systems. This technology provides a means of multiplying the limited available clean planting material and its propagation under nursery conditions. This technology forms the basis of the ginger certification programme and when supported by Good Agriculture Practices (GAPs) as described herein should help ginger growers boost their levels of production. This information has been compiled predominantly from locally validated investigations and accepted norms in the ginger industry worldwide. It incorporates the use of technologies such as drip irrigation, integrated nutrition management and integrated pest management. The aim of this manual is to provide the user with a step-by-step process flow and thorough understanding of the processes and inputs involved in the application of the single bud technology in ginger field production systems. Please note that this system of production is new to Jamaica and warrants that interested growers receive training and conduct evaluations of this system first in their own environment. Care must be taken to ensure that the recommended practices are followed to achieve the desired result.