The Hindu : Kerala News : High grade turmeric gains popularity

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Sunday, Nov 16, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala

High grade turmeric gains popularity

Maleeha Raghaviah

Growers prefer rich cur cumin content

KOZHIKODE: The Prathibha variety turmeric, noted for its rich cur cumin content, is being increasingly preferred by growers in the State.

Farmers are enthused by the higher productivity of the variety.

Its average yield under Kerala conditions is about 35 tonnes a hectare. Dry recovery accounts for 19 per cent. Maturity is attained in 195-200 days.

Abdul Nabeel, farmer at Koonamvellikavu, Meppayyur panchayat, in the district, says 1 kg seed provides 10 kg yield while it is only 6 kg in other varieties.

Mr. Nabeel sold the seed through the Krishi Bhavan to Kudumbasree groups and farmers. Large areas are now under the crop for household use and for seed.

The fingers provide the seed and not the mother plant. “Inter-cropping of Prathibha turmeric in our 15-acre landholding has been profitable for the last four years. I grow the crop mainly for seed, which is sold in bulk and small quantities,” says C.P. Cherian, a 73-year-old farmer at Valakam, Muvattupuzha. He sold 300 kg seed to a buyer in Payyannur and 100 kg to another in Thiruvananthapuram.

Mr. Cherian says fluctuating price of turmeric is the only drawback. If well tended, productivity is high giving good profit.

K. Shashi Kumar of Nattinchira, Thrissur, who cultivates the variety in over three acres, says the yield is double. The crop is preferred in the market for medicinal quality. Research is on about its therapeutic value in cancer treatment, he says.

The Prathibha variety was developed by Principal Scientist of the Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode, B. Sasikumar, who is now spices technical expert under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme of the Government of India in Georgetown, Guyana. Turmeric is Curcuma longa, irrespective of whether it is Prathibha, Prabha, or Alleppey Supreme.

Released in 1996, it is one among the two turmeric varieties (Prathibha and Prabha) in the world evolved through open pollinated progeny selection (sexual means).

The other varieties numbering 24 are evolved through selection or mutation (asexual method).

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