On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a significant announcement by establishing a National Turmeric Board, addressing a longstanding request from stakeholders in the industry.
“Today I am announcing a major decision related to this (turmeric) from the land of Telangana. Considering the needs and future prospects of turmeric farmers, the Centre has decided to constitute the National Turmeric Board for their benefit,” Modi said after laying the foundation stone of various projects at Mahabubnagar in Telangana.
Speaking at the Global Turmeric Conference 2023 in Mumbai on September 27th, Hemant Patil, a Lok Sabha member representing Maharashtra’s Hingoli constituency, highlighted the persistent efforts made over several years to establish a turmeric board.
“Unfortunately, this has not happened till now,” he said. However, upon being contacted following the Prime Minister’s announcement, he expressed his appreciation for the decision and expressed the hope that the board would find its home in Hingoli. Maharashtra has consistently led the charge in advocating for the establishment of the turmeric board, given its status as the foremost producer of this prized spice in recent years.
During his speech, Modi emphasized that the National Turmeric Board would play a pivotal role in assisting farmers across various aspects, including value addition within the supply chain and infrastructure-related projects.
“I congratulate all the turmeric-growing farmers of Telangana and the country for the formation of ‘National Turmeric Board,” he said.
Highlighting the nation’s significant role as a major producer, consumer, and exporter of turmeric, he noted that the awareness of turmeric’s benefits has surged following the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, there has been a global increase in demand for this spice.
“Today, it is imperative that the entire value chain of turmeric, from production to export and research, is given more professional attention; and initiative needs to be taken in this regard,” the Prime Minister said, dwelling on the importance of the announcement.
India’s turmeric production stands at approximately 1.1 million tonnes, constituting an impressive 80 percent of the global output. Turmeric exports have been steadily rising and currently sit at around 1.5 lakh tonnes, with shipments gaining momentum since the onset of the pandemic.