Kerala seed comes to the rescue of turmeric farmers

Amaravati: Turmeric farmers who used Kerala seeds Pratibha, Prabha varieties last year on pilot basis got 4 per cent curcumin and a better price.

The horticulture department has taken steps to supply the same seeds to the farmers during this season in Guntur district. The turmeric scientists are suggesting to the farmers to adopt bud chip method to reduce seed cost.

At present, farmers are using 1,000 to 1,500 kg of seeds per acre, if they adopt new system, seeds usage will come down by 20 per cent. Under this system, turmeric finger pieces will be used as seeds.

Turmeric produced in Guntur district contains 2% curcumin while those who used Kerala seeds got 4 per cent curcumin. Depending upon curcumin percentage, the traders or exporters offer the price for the turmeric. If turmeric contains 4% curcumin, the farmers will get Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 more price per tonne.

At present a tonne is being sold at Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per tonne in Duggirala market yard. Turmeric is being used as natural colour, medicine and food item in Gulf countries. When it contains pesticide residues, the traders in AP are not getting export orders from Germany and European countries.

When the traders are not getting export orders, they are offering lesser price to farmers. At present the traders are exporting 8,000 tones of turmeric to Gulf where it will be used in medicines and as a natural colour. The farmers in Guntur district are using old methods to boil the turmeric as a result some curcumin percentage is getting reduced.

To protect curcumin percentage, the horticulture department is supplying steam boilers to the farmers. Deputy director of horticulture K Jayachandra Reddy said, “Kerala seed is pest resistant and it contains 4% curcumin. We are supplying steam boilers to the farmers on subsidy to extend a helping hand to them.”