Turmeric, a short-duration crop, provides ample revenue to farmers of the district, particularly those on the banks of the river. It does not require much part of the land and is less labour-intensive.
The 45-day crop is raised in the Tamil month of Karthigai so that it can be harvested by Thai month. It is widely grown in Uppliyapuram, Thuraiyur, Musiri, and Lalgudi blocks on fields located on the banks of the river.
N. Veerasekaran, coordinator of the Ayyan Vaikkal Ayacutdars Welfare Association, said the crop was ideally suited for fields where paddy, sugarcane, or plantain is cultivated.
“It requires only just part of a field, normally the corner of a field used for raising the nurseries. Turmeric raised on the fields starts generating after a fortnight. Mostly, it is free from any pest attack,” says A. Ameer john, another farmer of Poovalur. He pointed out that it was harvested beyond January 10 so that it could be immediately marketed on the eve of ‘Pongal’ festival. Each plant is sold anywhere between Rs.10 and Rs. 20. Poolvalur, Pallavapuram, and Peruvalanallur are the major villages where the crop is raised.
According to Agriculture Department sources, this spices crop is raised on an area of 300 hectares of land in the district.
