The agriculture market yard in Nizamabad district, which is one of the largest producers of turmeric in India.
| Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL
A desire and political demand that shaped the politics of Nizamabad district involving two prominent politicians is being finally fulfilled with the headquarters of the National Turmeric Board to be formally inaugurated in Nizamabad by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday, June 29.
The ceremony will feature the unveiling of the official logo of the Board, symbolising a new era of farmer innovation and global competitiveness. Earlier this month, Mr. Amit Shah was invited by Arvind Dharmapuri, Member of Parliament from Nizamabad and the National Turmeric Board Chairperson Palle Ganga Reddy.
The event holds significant political hue as the issue in 2019 saw the defeat of the then sitting MP and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) candidate K. Kavitha from Nizambad when her father K. Chandrasekhar Rao was the Chief Minister. The defeat shook the political circles as, at that point in time, the BRS had won the Assembly elections with record number of seats just a few months earlier.
The country’s focus turned to the BJP candidate Arvind Dharmapuri, who was a first-time contestant and that too from a seat which the BJP had never won. Mr. Arvind’s father was a Congress stalwart, having served as the PCC chief and later as MP from the BRS. Mr. Arvind contesting on the BJP ticket itself was a huge shock, and he made it to the national headlines defeating Ms. Kavitha at the peak of the BRS’ popularity.
Mr. Arvind’s promise of establishing a Turmeric Board if he won and a signed bond paper he distributed to the turmeric farmers in that direction made a huge difference to the campaign itself. Though delayed by a few years, the desire and dream of the turmeric farmers is being realised now. Mr. Arvind’s advocacy has ensured that turmeric, a crop with deep roots in Indian culture and economy, receives the institutional support it deserves. The physical headquarters in Nizamabad follows the virtual inauguration held on January 14, 2025, by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal.
What would it bring to Nizamabad farmers? Mr. Arvind says the Board is expected to spearhead a variety of transformative initiatives, including research and development into turmeric varieties and cultivation techniques. Establishment of processing and value-addition units and promotion of exports, and branding of Indian turmeric in global markets will pick up. Support for farmers through cooperatives, capacity building, and better market access will increase.
Published – June 28, 2025 07:39 PM is
