Photo Source: Commodity Board Europe GmbH

In a major step toward uplifting India’s turmeric farming community and expanding the country’s share in global spice trade, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the headquarters of the newly established National Turmeric Board in Nizamabad, Telangana. Addressing a gathering of farmers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers, Shah made a bold announcement that turmeric prices are expected to increase by Rs 7,000 per quintal over the next three years, significantly enhancing farm incomes and economic stability in turmeric-growing regions.

Describing the formation of the National Turmeric Board as the fulfillment of a long-standing demand, Shah said the board will be a transformative body for farmers who have, for decades, remained disconnected from formal markets and export opportunities. The board’s establishment particularly addresses concerns raised by growers in Nizamabad and surrounding districts, where turmeric is not just a crop but a cultural and economic mainstay. According to Shah, the board will serve as a vital link between grassroots producers and global buyers by overseeing packaging, branding, marketing, and exports, while ensuring that farmers are no longer exploited by intermediaries.

He highlighted that the current market rate for turmeric hovers between Rs 18,000 and Rs 19,000 per quintal and expressed confidence that, under the guidance of the Turmeric Board, this would rise to Rs 25,000 to Rs 26,000 per quintal within three years. This planned price elevation is part of a broader government strategy to reposition India as a global leader in turmeric trade, with a stated goal of achieving $1 billion in turmeric exports by 2030. Shah underscored that India will aggressively promote the medicinal and wellness properties of turmeric in overseas markets, aligning with rising international demand for plant-based health ingredients. This export push will be complemented by improvements in packaging quality, certification standards, and farmer upskilling programs to ensure global market compliance.

The Union Minister also drew attention to Telangana’s pivotal role in India’s turmeric production map, noting that districts like Nizamabad, Jagtial, Nirmal, and Kamareddy would be developed into world-class turmeric trade hubs. In the crop year 2023–24, turmeric was cultivated on approximately 3 lakh hectares, producing nearly 10.74 lakh tonnes—figures that underline the sector’s potential if linked with well-structured market mechanisms and international value chains.

In addition to trade and pricing reforms, the National Turmeric Board will offer farmer training in best practices for cultivation, harvesting, drying, processing, and packaging, including support for Geographic Indication (GI) tagging to boost global recognition and price realization. Shah also reiterated the government’s commitment to organic farmers, citing the formation of National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL) and National Cooperative Organic Limited (NCOL), which will provide organic turmeric growers with direct access to domestic and export markets without having to go through multiple layers of intermediaries.

The event was attended by Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy and Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar, among others. Their presence underscored the Centre’s determination to align agriculture, trade, and regional development in a way that empowers primary producers and strengthens India’s strategic footprint in the global spice economy.