Farmers in Nizamabad are overjoyed at the news of Spices Board of India giving its technical agreement for the establishment of a turmeric park in Nizamabad district.However, many farmers are of the opinion that the park needs to be set up in Armoor sub-division as the turmeric is mainly grown in over 30,000 hectares in eight mandals of the area. That apart, the sub-division has all facilities – two National Highways, NH-44 (Hyderabad-New Delhi via Nagpur) and NH-63 (Mumbai-Jagadalpur), and the yet-to-be completed Peddapally-Nizamabad railway line pass through Armoor.
Many farmers believe that if the park cum processing unit comes into existence, it would resolve their woes as it will ensure reasonable remunerative price besides avoiding the risk in transporting the produce to far-off markets such as Sangli in Maharashtra for a better price. Since online trading facility will also be available with the setting up of a turmeric park, trading of produce could be possible from all over the world.
Farmers of Armoor area grow the crop and process it in a traditional manner by using firewood and engaging coolies which involves high cost.
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The proposed park is expected to bring modern technical methods to process the crop which saves time and unnecessary costs to farmers. Besides, farmers would also get expert advice for growing better quality crop.
In fact, the proposal has long been pending and the UPA-I government, on the request of the then State government led by Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, agreed in principle to sanction the park.
Subsequently, it sanctioned a processing unit and some amount. As a result, the work began and was carried out to some extent. However, the reasons were not exactly known as to why the processing unit work was left in the middle.
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It was reported that Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Horticulture, Poonam Malakondaiah, on her recent visit to Kochi, succeeded in prevailing upon the Spices Board Chairperson to set up the park. However, the onus of providing facilities like land and power depends on the State government.
A turmeric farmer in Armoor area, Hanmanth Reddy, said that the turmeric park would be a boon for the farming community.
It will also provide direct and indirect employment to several youth in the area where there are absolutely no industries or manufacturing units.
The proposed park is expected to bring in modern technical methods to process the crop, which will save time and unnecessary costs