The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Turmeric cultivation picking up in two taluks

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Monday, Apr 14, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Turmeric cultivation picking up in two taluks

K. Raju

Thanks to introduction of contract farming in Theni district

Organically grown ones fetch Rs.500 to Rs.600 per tonne
No need to spend more money on fertilizers

THENI: After a gap of one and a half decades, cultivation of turmeric has started picking up in Cumbum and Bodi taluks in the district, thanks to introduction of contract farming and delay in disbursal of payment for major long-term crops and poor prices of other short term crops.

Cumbersome processing of turmeric and massive support from sugar mills had tempted farmers to switch over to sugarcane from turmeric crop 15 years ago. After that, the area under sugarcane cultivation has been expanded drastically in Perikaulam, Andipatti, Theni, Cumbum and Bodi taluks, owing to good support price for sugarcane and bulk payment to farmers.

But several farmers in Cumbum valley have stuck to paddy cultivation in the past several decades. Now, companies and traders have come forward to procure raw turmeric in large scale without processing from the field itself.

Even as total duration of the crop was over 270 days, marketing will not be a difficult task for farmers, who have a tie-up with companies and traders.

Moreover, farmers need not spend more on fertilizers to grow the crop and invest on pest management as the companies insist on organically produced turmeric only.

At present, farmers use only organic manure and vermicomposts to cultivate the crop. Organically grown turmeric fetches Rs.500 to Rs.600 per tonne, which is more than the prevailing market price, say farmers.

With massive production of vermicompost by over 150 self-help groups in the district, farmers would not find any shortage of organic manure throughout the year. Already, the several SHGs have been selling large quantum of vermicompost to cardamom farms in Kerala.

Moreover, storage level is also very comfortable in the Periyar dam, one of the major irrigation sources to farmers in the district.

The farmers in the valley have already started pressing the district administration for early release of water from the Periyar dam to raise the first crop in the double-cropping area.

Normally, Public Works Department engineers release water on June1 for irrigation. Farmers want water release on May 20 itself.

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