Govt sets up National Turmeric Board, exports may touch USD 1 bn by 2030

The Centre on Wednesday set up National Turmeric Board with a view to promoting production of the herb having medicinal value and increase its exports to USD 1 billion or Rs 8,400 crore by 2030.

"With the focused activities of the board, it is expected that turmeric exports will reach USD 1 billion by 2030," a commerce ministry statement said, adding that the Centre on Wednesday notified the constitution of National Turmeric Board which will focus on development and growth of turmeric and turmeric products in the country. Union Minister Kishan Reddy told mediapersons that the decision fulfils the long-pending demand of farmers of Telangana. He said the board will not only help farmers of Telangana but also of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram, Assam, Gujarat, Odisha and West Bengal.

The government has chalked out a plan to increase turmeric exports to Rs 8,400 crore, or USD 1 billion, per annum (by 2030) from the existing Rs 1,600 crore, Union Minister Anurag Thakur, told journalists about the Union Cabinet decision. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced setting up of the board on a visit to poll-bound Telangana on Sunday and the Centre notified the proposal within three days.

The board will have a chairperson to be appointed by the central government. Its members will be from Ministry of AYUSH, Departments of Pharmaceuticals, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Commerce and Industry of the Union Government, senior state government representatives from three states (on rotation basis), select national/state institutions involved in research, representatives of turmeric farmers and exporters. It will have a secretary to be appointed by Department of Commerce.

India has more than 62 per cent share in world trade of turmeric. During 2022-23, 1.534 lakh tonne of turmeric and turmeric products valued at USD 207.45 million was exported by more than 380 exporters. The leading export markets for Indian turmeric are Bangladesh, the UAE, the US and Malaysia. The board will provide leadership on turmeric related matters, augment the efforts, and facilitate greater coordination with Spices Board and other government agencies in development and growth of the turmeric sector.

The world has significant interest in the health and wellness benefits of turmeric, which the board will leverage to further increase awareness and consumption, develop new markets internationally to increase exports, promote research and development into new products, and develop the traditional knowledge for value-added turmeric products. It will especially focus on capacity building and skill development of turmeric growers for harnessing greater benefits out of value addition.

The board will also promote quality and food safety standards and adherence to such standards. Besides, it will take steps to further safeguard and usefully exploit the full potential of turmeric for humanity. India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric in the world.

In 2022-23, an area of 3.24 lakh hectare was under turmeric cultivation in India with a production of 11.61 lakh tonne (over 75 per cent of global turmeric production). More than 30 varieties of turmeric are grown in India and it is grown in over 20 states in the country. The largest producing states of turmeric are Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The National Turmeric Board will be on the line of such boards for tea, coffee, spices, jute, coconut, among others. These boards help farmers market their produce, besides looking after their other needs.