TURMERIC India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric in the world.

Indian turmeric is considered to be the best in the world market because of its high curcumin content. India accounts for about 80 per cent of world turmeric production and 60 per cent of world exports. Other major producers are Pakistan, China, Haiti, Jamaica, Peru, Taiwan and Thailand. Asian countries consume much of their turmeric production. Turmeric is very important spice in India, which produces nearly entire whole worlds crop and consumes 80% of it. India is by far the largest producer and exporter of turmeric in the world. Turmeric occupies about 6% of the total area under spices and condiments in India. Major area is in India which constitutes 82% followed by China (8%), Myanmar (4%), Nigeria (3%) and Bangladesh (3%) Indian scenario There is an increase from 162.9 thousand ha in 2001-02 to177.5 thousand ha in 2005-06. Similarly, the production has increased from 552.3 thousand tons in 2001-02 to 846.7 thousand tons in 2005-06.The details are given in table 14.1. Table 14.1: Area, production and productivity of turmeric in India YEAR 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 AREA ( 000ha) 162.9 149.8 150.7 158.4 177.5 PRODUCTION (000tons) 552.3 526.4 567.2 718.1 846.7 PRODUCTIVITY (tons/ha) 3.3 3.5 3.7 4.5 4.7

2. Major producing states with production of last three years The main turmeric producing states in India are Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Karnataka, West Bengal, Gujarat and Kerala. Maximum area under turmeric cultivation is in Andhra Pradesh (69.9 thousand ha), where production is very high ie.518.5 thousand tons. Then comes Tamil Nadu (area 25.9 thousand ha and production is 143.3 thousand tons), followed by Orissa and West Bengal (area is 24.0 thousand ha and 11.8 thousand ha respectively whereas production is 57 thousand tons. and 25 thousand tons. respectively) Productivity of turmeric like ginger is highest in Gujarat. The details are given below in the table 14.2

Table 14.2: Area, production and productivity of leading turmeric growing states in India STATE
2003-04 Andhra Pradesh Tamil Nadu Orissa West Bengal Karnataka Gujarat Kerala Sikkim Others Total 58.4 16.1 23.7 12.6 5.4 0.95 2.7 0.51 30.3 150.7

AREA (000ha)
2004-05 60.3 21.6 23.5 12.4 5.4 1.02 2.8 0.52 30.9 158.4 2005-06 69.9 25.9 24.0 11.8 5.4 1.4 3.3 0.67 35.2 177.5

PRODUCTION (000tons)
2003-04 320.6 67.2 56.4 24.5 26.3 11.1 5.6 1.7 53.8 567.2 2004-05 417.8 118.4 55.9 24.4 26.3 14.1 6.2 1.74 53.4 718.1 2005-06 518.5 143.3 57.0 25.0 26.3 16.5 8.2 3.6 48.3 846.7

PRODUCTIVITY (tons/ha)
2003-04 5.4 4.1 2.3 1.9 4.8 11.6 2.0 3.3 1.7 3.7 2004-05 6.9 5.4 2.3 1.9 4.8 13.8 2.2 3.3 1.7 4.5 2005-06 7.4 5.5 2.3 2.1 4.8 11.7 2.4 5.3 1.3 4.7

Table 14.4: Showing concentrated pockets of turmeric in India. State Districts Andhra Pradesh Cuddapah, Adilabad, Medak, Nizamabad, Guntur Gujarat Kheda, Anand, Sabarkantha Kerala Wayanad, Palakkadu, Idukki, Kollam,Kozhikode Tamil Nadu Karur,Villupuram,Coimbatore,Salem,Dharmapuri,Krishnagri,Ero de Orissa Gajapati,Kalahandi,Keonjhar,Koraput,Belasore,Mayurbhanj, Phulbani,Nayagarh,Cuttack.

Table 14.5: Showing the details of catchment areas of market of turmeric in leading states States Districts Blocks Jammalamdugu, Proddatur, Muddanaru, Kamalapuram, Lakkireddipalle, Rajampet, Rayachoti, Koduru. Andhra Cuddapah Pradesh

States

Districts Adilabad Medak,

Blocks Boath, Mudhol, Nirmal, Utnur, Sirpur, Chinnur, Lakshettipet, Dubak,Mirdoddi,Siddipet,Sadaseopet,Zanirabad,Sangareddi,Narsapur,

Nizamabad Madnur,Bodhan,Banola,Banswada,Kamareddi,Yellareddi, Guntur Gujarat Kheda, Anand Piduguralla, Prattipadu, Ponnuru, Pallapatla, Repalle, Manglagiri, Puru, Vinukonda, Durgi. Kapadwanj, Balasinor, Tharsa, Madhudha, Mehmedabad, Matar. Sojitra,Umrath,Khambhat,Borsad,Sarsa,Tarapur,Undel,Vadtl

Sabarkantha Khedbrahma, Vijaynagar, Vadali, Idar, Bhiloda, Himatnagar, Prantij, Meghraj, Malpur, Bayad, Dhansura. Kerala Wayanad Palakkad Idukki Kollam Kozhikode Tamil Nadu Karur Thavinhal,Valatl,Hatika,Puthady,Kalpetta,Chegual,Thariode, Vallarimela,Koltappadi,Vayittri. Tudikki,Mukkali,Korgad,Pallavur,Chittadi,Mudarachal, Parambikolam, Elattodu, Kollangod, Naitala, Chittur Painavu,Nadunkandam,Devikulam,Todupulai,Piramad. Tekku,Todi,Karupra,Veliyam,Kanur,Anchal,Pallinam, Chekkiad,Valayam,Mariyur,Kottur,Pudipaddi,Vavad, Kuruvattur, Mavur, Olavanna. Paramatti,Muntipalavau,Thantoni,Mayanur,Panjapatti, Kadavur, Kulittatai, Kadavur, Kulittatai, Krishnarayapuram

Villupuram Avalurpettai,Gingee,Sankarapuram,Kallakkurichchi, Ulundurpettai, Tirukkovilur, Vlundurpetti, Vanum,Vallam Coimbatore Muttuppalaiyam,Avinashi,Tiruppur,Palladam,Udumallaippettai,Pollac Salem Mettur, Yercaud, Idappadi, Omalpur, Attur, Gangavalli, Sankagiri

Dharmapuri Pennagaram, Harur, Pappireedipatti, Palakkodu, Pochampalli Orissa Kalahandi Koraput Dharamgarh, Bhawanipatna, Lanjigarh, Jayapatna Kotapad,Boriguma,Jaypur,Machhakund,Nandapur,Singpuru,Bagra, Rayisingi,Jalaput,Gupteshwar.

Mayurbhanj Hemagiri, Banel, Panposh, Raj Gangpur,

June 18, 2011 THE HINDU Turmeric cultivation begins in Erode

S. Ramesh ERODE: Erode will soon blush with the golden glow of turmeric, as farmers in most parts of the district have begun the cultivation of turmeric crop for the current session. While a few farmers had already started sowing seeds, many others are done preparing their land for the cultivation. The public works department would release the water from the Kalingarayan ayacut from June 19. Water would also be released in the Lower Bhavani Project shortly, enabling the farmers to take up cultivation activities. The sowing will continue till the first week of August. But we expect the farmers in the district to complete the sowing by the end of July, horticulture officials here said. Erode is one of the largest turmeric producing districts in the country. The normal area under the turmeric crop in the district is around 6,000 hectares. But in the year 2010, farmers had covered more than 10,000 hectares under the turmeric crop, as the prices of the yellow spice registered a sharp increase. The prices had crossed Rs. 17,000 a quintal last year, making many turmeric farmers in the district richer. The bullish market had encouraged the farmers to double the acreage under turmeric cultivation in the district in 2010. But the prices had come down during the fiscal and was around Rs. 8,000 8,500 a quintal currently. Even the current price of the yellow spice is remunerative for the farmers. There is an expectation among the farmers that the prices of turmeric will go up in the coming months. This will prompt them to take up the crop in more areas this year too, traders here say. We expect the acreage under turmeric to cross 10000 hectares this year too, horticulture officials said.

Factors influencing prices

* Domestic Fundamentals * World production & Exports * International trading price * Domestic and Export demand * Carry forward stocks * Sowing and Harvesting * Climatic conditions

ERODE, JULY 3: Spot turmeric prices decreased on Tuesday due to low demand. According to traders, medium variety turmeric fetched decreased price, as there was no fresh orders from North Indian traders owing to the rainy season.

Further, futures prices also didnt appreciate. So the buyers quoted reduced price for the commodity. Medium variety turmeric too fetched decreased prices. Traders said they received only minimum orders from the local turmeric powder producers and masala firms. The turmeric growers said that they are in need of money, so they brought limited quantity of turmeric for sale, sold a portion of the same for decreased price. They said out of 8,800 bags,, only 60 per cent were sold. Only 500 bags of root variety out of 2,100 were purchased. The Hybrid Salem crop price was decreased by Rs 292 a quintal; finger variety in Gobichettipalayam Cooperative Marketing Society saw a price cut of Rs 250 a quintal. At the Erode Turmeric Merchants Association Sales yard, the finger variety fetched Rs 2,499-4,149; root variety Rs 2,209-3,881 a quintal. Salem crop: The finger variety was sold at Rs 3,541-4,711; root variety Rs 3,439-4,175. Of the arrival of 1,354 bags, only 824 bags were sold. At the Regulated Marketing Committee, the finger variety was sold at Rs 3,569- 4,215, root variety Rs 3,551-4,019 a quintal. Of the arrival of 1,445 bags, 1,388 were sold. At the Erode Cooperative Marketing Society, finger variety was sold at Rs 3,100-4,476 a quintal; root variety Rs 3,100-3,893 a quintal. All the 1,321 bags of turmeric kept for sales were sold. At the Gobichettipalayam Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Society, finger variety was sold at Rs 3,259-4,201 a quintal, root variety Rs 2,769 3,819 a quintal. All the 327 bags of turmeric were sold.