Article Title: National Turmeric Board
03-10-2023
Agriculture Prelims Plus
Why is in news? By establishing the National Turmeric Board, we aim to harness the potential of our turmeric farmers: PM
Prime Minister announced the formation of a National Turmeric Board to support turmeric farmers, addressing a long-standing demand.
He highlighted India’s significant role in turmeric production and emphasized the need for a professional approach in the entire turmeric value chain, given increased global demand post-Covid.
India is the world’s leading turmeric producer, and aims to enhance its turmeric industry through this initiative.
Turmeric:
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the ginger family.
The plant’s underground stems or rhizomes have been used as a spice, dye, medicine, and religious maker since antiquity.
The spice’s colour comes mainly from curcumin, a bright yellow phenolic compound that has been in the news for its ostensible potential to fight cancer. As a result, the demand for turmeric with high curcumin content has risen.
It requires temperatures between 20 and 30 °C (68 and 86 °F) and a considerable amount of annual rainfall to thrive.
Though it can be grown on different types of soils, it thrives best in well-drained sandy or clay loam soils with a pH range of 4.5-7.5 with good organic status.
India is the largest producer and exporter of turmeric in the world.
Turmeric occupies about 6% of the total area under spices and condiments in India.
Telangana was the leading producer of turmeric in India during 2022. Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were second, third and fourth in the ranking that year.
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