The Union Commerce Ministry, which has set up Spice Board Development Agency in Warangal, is also proposing to set up a special cell for turmeric in Nizamabad. These two organisations in association with TS government agencies can help in improving the production, quality, marketing and export of turmeric, said Spices Board India’s Director of Research & Development A.B. Remashree on Monday.
The State Horticulture Mission and the Farmers Producers Groups too can join forces to help improve the content of ‘curcumin’, the naturally occurring chemical compound found in turmeric, which will provide better price for the crop and also enhance the export potential, she said.
Addressing a one-day turmeric workshop on ‘Production and export promotion of turmeric in Telangana attended by farmers, scientists, elected representatives and others, the director said the ‘curcumin’ content in crop grown in TS is less than 5% whereas it is 8% in the crop grown in North-East. The Spices Board is ready to assist in improving the ‘curcumin’ content, help in conducting workshops, holding buyer-seller meets, etc.
