File photo of farmhands working on a turmeric field in Nizamabad.
India needs to evolve from being just a supplier of raw turmeric and adopt innovation, quality improvement and sustainable practices, says a report titled ‘Making India the Global Hub for Turmeric’, brought out by a public policy organisation with support of a company.
Unveiled a day after the launch of the National Turmeric Board in Nizamabad and the Centre setting a $1-billion turmeric export target to be achieved by 2030, the report by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations and Amway India Enterprises called for investments in post-harvest infrastructure.
It said scaling up turmeric farmer producer organisations and fostering knowledge sharing through research and development as well as global collaborations were crucial for maintaining competitiveness.
Lead author Arpita Mukherjee sought to emphasise India’s unique opportunity to leverage its rich turmeric heritage by enhancing production practices, strengthening export channels and promoting value-added products, Amway said in a release on the report launch programme on Wednesday (January 15).
With fluctuating prices and gaps in market access behind the decline in turmeric production in recent years, there is a need for targeted support to stabilise turmeric cultivation. Enhancing finance, marketing, co-operatives and regulated market access were aspects essential to empower farmers and boost output.
A study had showed that third-party certified organic produce fetches a better price, but it is costly, and there is no subsidy. The report thus recommends subsidy for third-party certified organic produce, streamlining regulatory bodies and signing mutual recognition agreements for regulatory cooperation, which would help promote exports, Amway said.
Promoting high-curcumin varieties and leveraging international platforms can solidify India’s position as a leading turmeric exporter. Global turmeric market was valued at $58.2 million in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.1% by 2028.
India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric in the world. The country had 3.25 lakh hectares under turmeric cultivation in 2022-23, producing 11.61 lakh tonnes of the spice (over 70% of global production).
Over 30 varieties of turmeric are grown in over 20 states, and Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are the largest turmeric producers. The authors of the report said there is scope for more geographical Indication (GI) products as well.
Published – January 16, 2025 06:57 pm IST
