Kandhamal turmeric price at all-time high

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PHULBANI: Deficient rainfall in Kandhamal is likely to affect the turmeric output this year. Due to rising temperature, the soil has become hard making it difficult for the farmers to dig out the rhizomes. Being a delicate crop, turmeric needs to be cultivated and harvested with care to avoid damage to the rhizomes. As a rain-fed crop, turmeric needs a well-distributed annual rainfall of 250-400 cm for successful production.In the wake of increasing profit margin in turmeric cultivation, the acreage has been increased to 15,000 from 12,000 in the district and more than 60,000 farmers are into it. The crop fetches around Rs 60 crore to Rs 70 crore annually.This year, market price of Kandhamal turmeric is at its all time high. Unlike previous years, when it was sold at Rs 30 to Rs 35 a kg, this year the price has been fixed at Rs 40 to Rs 45.Recently, a private entrepreneur signed an MoU with the district administration to purchase 8,000 quintals of turmeric from the district farmers after paying Rs 2 extra per kg against the prevailing market price. The farmers had hoped that this would help them compensate their loss incurred during the riots. However, the rains have played the spoilsport.Kandhamal turmeric has spread its aroma worldwide in the last few years. To boost turmeric cultivation in the district, the Jawahar Rojgar Yojana was implemented in Phringia, K.Nuagaon, Raikia, Daringbadi and G.Udaygiri blocks in 1995 at a cost of Rs 3.10 crore. In 2004, organic turmeric project was implemented in these blocks at the cost of Rs 4.80 crore. Following these two projects, around 400 varieties of turmeric have been developed in the district which are being exported to Holland, England and Germany.