Tapping the soil fertility, farmers, who shifted from paddy to turmeric cultivation in select areas of Krishna District, are witnessing high yield and unmatched returns.
Cyclone Laila resulted in the decrease in turmeric yield per acre this season – June to April, despite that the farmers are reaping profits of above Rs.50,000 per acre.
The entire input cost ranged between Rs.25,000 and Rs.30,000.
Having better connectivity with Krishna river canal system and blessed with good groundwater levels, good turmeric crop was harvested in Movva, Nidumolu, Poranki, Penamaluru to Patamata areas.
Risky affair
“Paddy crop proved to be a risky affair. One spell of rain in December can spoil the entire standing crop, like what had happened in the last three years. Turmeric sustains many such vagaries of nature,” said K. Basavayya of Pedapudi village in Movva mandal.
“Twelve quintals of turmeric we received this year is the minimum yield. It will now fetch above Rs.50,000 profit at the marketing price of Rs.7,000 per quintal. Of late, this is solely an inter crop with maize,” Mr. Basavayya told The Hindu .
Fearing damage to the turmeric seed or yield, farmers in the district never opt for any mechanised instrument and completely depend on traditional farming for sowing or harvesting operations. Women play a major role in sowing, while post-harvesting is completely dependent on men.
Farmers, who run turmeric boiler in this region, found a way to earn their source of daily income.
“A maximum of 20 trips of turmeric can be boiled in a day, maximum of 120 kgs in every trip at Rs.225 per trip. Around Rs. 4,500 revenue is generated on the boiler during the peak season from April to May,” says K. Venkateswara Rao.
Turmeric is sown in July and harvested in April and May.
Hence small, marginal and tenant farmers have traced out a lucrative way to come out of the risk-linked paddy crop to taking up turmeric crop.
