India's Yellow Magic: Can Turmeric Turn Into Gold?

Ask an Indian, and they will probably tell you that ‘haldi’ can fix almost anything — acne, body aches, a stubborn cold, or a bad day. Not just that. Turmeric is considered auspicious too and in many parts of the country, brides and grooms are smeared with a generous coating of it before their wedding.

After all, in India, even a wedding begins with a little yellow magic.

But the picture is not as rosy for the lakhs of turmeric farmers in the country, which produces almost 80% of the spice grown globally. Almost all of them can be classified as small and marginal. 

This year the farmers are worried.

Not All That’s Nice

With erratic rains leading to reduction of groundwater levels in most parts of the country, production of the spice which needs a longer maturation period could drop.

“This will affect prices and directly hit the farmers’ income levels. The weather conditions are becoming more and more unpredictable,” said Anil Ghanwat, senior leader of Shetkari Sangathana, a Maharashtra-based farmers union.  

Ghanwat added that the scarcity of water is set to impact the quality of the spice too, which would again impact the prices. “Due to the long maturation period, many then could just decide to switch to some other crop,” Ghanwat said. 

India, the largest producer of the spice globally, is home to more than 30 varieties of turmeric.

Sample this.

In Meghalaya’s Jaintia hills, thousands of women farmers are engaged in producing the Lakadong turmeric that contains over 7% of curcumin. While this rare variety of the golden powder holds the geographical indication (GI) tag, the farmers continue to face multiple challenges.

“One of most critical issues at hand is the lack of awareness among the farmers, who are women. Even as they produce the famous variety of turmeric, there is little branding and marketing exercise,” Anasuya Gupta, Founder, WildHop, a natural wellness brand focused on sourcing turmeric from the Lakadong area, told The Secretariat.  

Spicing It Up

Gupta, who works with the farmers in the region, however, noted that the state government has been actively working on promoting the turmeric that is grown in the region.

Earlier this year, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister, Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER), and Conrad Sangma, Meghalaya Chief Minister, launched the Mission Golden Spice to promote the Lakadong turmeric.

The ₹1.7 billion programme aims at doubling farmers' income by 2030 while increasing cultivation.

At present, a farmer growing turmeric earns about ₹30–40 a kg.

“A lot of hard work is required to make this mission a success though we must understand that a beginning has been made,” said Gupta, who is also trying to promote the spice for its medicinal value through new products such as turmeric-based-drink and capsules.  

Besides the northeast, other states including Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu also produce this spice.

Among others, Duggirala and Rajapure turmeric can be found mostly in in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Alappuzha and Erode varieties are grown in Kerala and Tamil Nadu respectively.

The Turmeric Board

The Centre has launched the National Turmeric Board (NTB) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to promote not just its production but also exports. 

The demand for the wonder spice is growing. While the US is the largest market for India, demand for turmeric is increasing even in Europe. Apart from this, India exports its turmeric to Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, and other Gulf nations.

“The turmeric board will start with the basics like creating the right social and economic environment for the farmers who produce the spice and then we would start training them so that they can market their products. The function of the board will be to facilitate production, marketing, packaging and even exporting,” a senior official of the commerce ministry said.  

The global market size for turmeric is estimated at about US$ 5 billion. But demand is growing rapidly as wellness takes centrestage.  

Challenges

Despite the initiatives, the farmers’ woes continue. 

The uncertainties have increased with erratic climatic conditions. The spice cannot grow in extreme weather conditions. The temperatures need to be moderate with well distributed rains.

“The climatic conditions in most parts of the country are apt for turmeric production, but the National Turmeric Board will need to create the right ecosystem for the farmers who are primarily dependent on bigger sellers and middlemen. While the hard work is done by them, the farmers get very little,” the official pointed out.

Much like rice, India must seize the opportunity to become the world’s most credible turmeric supplier.