As Centre sets up National Turmeric Board, Telangana farmer leaders say: ‘Let it start functioning’

“The goal of the NTB is very clear. We will ensure that turmeric farmers get value for their produce and also market the product extensively. Turmeric is not just a food item. It has immense health benefits and is widely used in the cosmetic industry. We will market turmeric widely so that farmers have enough avenues to sell their produce,” Reddy told The Indian Express on Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X to share his thoughts on the NTB. “The establishment of the National Turmeric Board is a matter of immense joy, particularly for our hardworking turmeric farmers across India! This will ensure better opportunities for innovation, global promotion and value addition in turmeric production. It will strengthen the supply chains, benefiting both farmers and consumers alike,” he wrote on Tuesday.

Sources in the BJP said Reddy was keen on contesting the 2023 Assembly polls from Armoor but was overlooked in favour of Rakesh Reddy, who went on to win the seat. “Ganga Reddy left no stone unturned in ensuring Rakesh’s win but was feeling sidelined since. He is an important leader in the region and was feeling a little sidelined. Naturally, the party placated him by making him the NTB chairman,” a source said.

The decision to set up the NTB was praised by leaders of the Congress, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and the BJP. Congress MLC Jeevan Reddy who is from Nizamabad was among those who lauded the Union government for making the board a reality.

The demand for NTB saw over 150 farmers contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls against the TRS (as the BRS was then known) candidate and current MLC K Kavitha from Nizamabad. Kavitha lost the polls and the demand intensified in 2021, forcing Arvind to sign a bond paper that the board would soon see the light of day.

Farm unions and leaders who were part of the struggle for the board responded cautiously to the announcement. Farmer leader Sunketa Ravi who is associated with the Congress and was one of those who contested against Kavitha welcomed the move. “However, only after it starts functioning will we be able to assess how beneficial it is for the thousands of turmeric farmers in Telangana and Maharashtra,” he told The Indian Express.

India is the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of turmeric in the world with most of the product coming from Telangana, Maharashtra and Meghalaya. India has more than 62% share of world trade. During the 2023-24 fiscal, 1.62 lakh tonnes of turmeric and turmeric products valued at $226.5 million were exported.

Echoing Ravi’s view, Armoor Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee’s former vice-chairman Linga Reddy, a BRS leader, welcomed the decision to establish the NTB but also spoke of farmers’ expectations.

“We hope that the board will ensure procurement of the crop and also mitigate losses incurred by turmeric farmers. As of now, we do not know their plans. We just hope that the NTB does not meet the fate of the turmeric research centre in neighbouring Balkonda. We also hope that the board will work on hybrid species of turmeric and provide them to us at subsidised costs to ensure better yield,” he said.

Apart from Reddy, the NTB board will include representatives of the AYUSH ministry, the Department of Pharmaceuticals, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and the Department of Commerce. Representatives from Maharashtra, Telangana and Meghalaya, which is famous for its Lakadong Turmeric, will also be part of the board while other states will be represented by rotation.

Reddy said the other members of the board had not yet been finalised. “The Centre was keen to inaugurate the NTB on the auspicious occasion of Sankranti and hence only the chairman has been appointed. Other members will be appointed soon after discussions and a meeting will be held to discuss the functioning,” he said.