Lack of statutory status for Turmeric Board leading to fall in prices: Kavitha

K. Kavitha | Photo Credit: Nagara Gopal

The BRS MLC and former Nizamabad MP K. Kavitha said the Central government issued a gazette notification to establish a Turmeric Board, but it had not given it statutory status and the board is unable to control the falling turmeric prices.

She said that if the board had legal backing, the import of low-quality turmeric from foreign countries would be restricted, thereby helping local farmers secure better prices. She was speaking after visiting the Nizamabad Turmeric Market Yard, where she interacted with turmeric farmers and assessed the ongoing price crisis in the market.

Ms. Kavitha further alleged that traders in the Nizamabad Market Yard had formed a syndicate to artificially suppress turmeric prices and were deliberately delaying purchases. Expressing concern over the blackmailing of farmers, she stated that despite having high-quality turmeric, farmers were not receiving fair prices.

Reminding that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had promised before the elections that a minimum support price of ₹12,000 per quintal would be set for turmeric, along with a bonus if market prices fell below this level, she accused the Congress government of failing to fulfil its commitment.

Ms. Kavitha also strongly criticised the Chief Minister alleging that he was offering Telangana’s share of Krishna and Godavari waters as “Gurudakshina” to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. She claimed that the Banakacherla project was announced by Mr. Naidu immediately after meeting Mr. Revanth Reddy at Praja Bhavan.