Turmeric prices have plummeted below the ₹10,000 per quintal mark, causing distress among farmers in the turmeric belt of undivided Nizamabad. The spice, known as the Golden Spice, is experiencing a significant drop in prices compared to last year’s record-high of over ₹20,000 per quintal. Currently, prices have fallen by 17-27 percent, leading to farmers resorting to distress sales.
Telangana, a major turmeric hub in the country, is expecting an output of 1.25 lakh tonnes this year from its 42,000 acres of turmeric cultivation. Prices in the state are currently ranging from ₹7,000 to ₹11,000 per quintal in different markets.
In contrast, prices in Tamil Nadu, another key turmeric hub, are slightly higher, ranging from ₹11,511 to ₹13,999 per quintal at the Erode market. However, even these prices have witnessed a decline in recent weeks.
Farmers are facing financial hardships as the cost of cultivation remains high while the selling price has dropped significantly. Many farmers are only able to fetch between ₹7,000 and ₹8,000 per quintal, leading to losses in their investments.
The farmers are urging the government to intervene and purchase the crop at a minimum price of ₹15,000 per quintal to alleviate their financial burden. Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao has written to the Union Agriculture Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, requesting the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) to purchase the crop under the Market Intervention Scheme.
Prof. Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PJTSAU) has forecasted a price range of ₹10,500 to ₹11,000 per quintal for turmeric during February-April 2025.
India is the largest producer and exporter of turmeric, accounting for 80 percent of the world’s output. Despite this dominance, the current price slump is causing challenges for Indian turmeric farmers. The country exported 1.62 lakh tonnes of turmeric in 2023-24, with major importers including Bangladesh, the UAE, Malaysia, the US, Morocco, and Iran.
The Central Government’s estimates for 2023-24 indicate a total turmeric production of 10.75 lakh tonnes, with significant contributions from states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.
The turmeric farmers are disheartened by the lack of support from both the State and Central governments. Former MP Kalvakunta Kavitha criticized the governments for not fulfilling their promises to provide relief to turmeric farmers during this crisis.
Despite the challenges, the farmers remain hopeful that government intervention and support will help stabilize prices and protect their livelihoods in the future.
