Demand met after 40 years, target to double production in five years

New Delhi| Modi government has given the gift of National Turmeric Board to turmeric farmers. Farmers had been demanding turmeric board for the last 40 years, finally their demand was fulfilled on Tuesday. This board will prove to be a historic step for the turmeric farmers, who were waiting for it for a long time.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the National Turmeric Board in Nizamabad, Telangana through video conferencing and expressed happiness over launching it on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti. Goyal said, there is a lot of potential to increase the productivity of turmeric in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The board will work for development in these areas. The main objective of the board will be to focus special attention on the welfare of turmeric farmers, development of good varieties and its export. The Union Minister said that increasing the cultivation of turmeric and its trade will boost the economic development not only of Nizamabad but also of North Telangana. P Ganga Reddy has been named the first chairman of the board. The headquarters of Haldi Board has been established in Nizamabad, Telangana.

Goyal said, the National Turmeric Board will help in developing new markets at the international level to promote exports. India accounts for 70 per cent of global turmeric production. We plan to double production to 2 million tones in five years.

India is the world’s largest turmeric producer, consumer and exporter. Turmeric is grown in 3.24 lakh hectares in the country and produces 11.61 lakh tones. This accounts for more than three-quarters of global turmeric production. Primary importers of Indian turmeric include Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the US and Malaysia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the formation of this board during a public meeting in Telangana in October, 2023. The ruling meets a 40-year-old demand from turmeric farmers, who were expecting the establishment of a dedicated board that could promote turmeric cultivation and trade.