Date:23/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/01/23/stories/2007012301862300.htm

Back Demand to fix higher MSP for turmeric

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Hyderabad Jan. 22 Stating that there was a decline in production and drop in price of turmeric in Andhra Pradesh, leading to hardships for the farmers, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) has demanded a series of steps, starting with the announcement of a minimum support price (MSP) of at least Rs 4,000 per quintal.

The market price of turmeric, which used to be around Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per quintal a few years ago, has dropped to Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,800 per quintal this year. Also, there has been a decline in the area under cultivation and production, it said in a press release.

FALL IN DEMAND

Nizamabad district, which alone accounts for over 40 per cent of the total turmeric production in the country, has seen alarming changes. The total area has come down to around 20,000 hectares from about 60,000 hectares. The yields per acre have also dropped from the average 25 to 30 quintals to 16 to 20 quintals this season, the SJM said.

The price of turmeric in the Nizamabad market is 20 to 30 per cent lower than the prevailing market prices at Sangli, Duggirala, Erode etc, the major turmeric markets in the country. While urging the State Government to take steps to protect the turmeric crop in the district, the SJM said the woes of the turmeric-growing farmers should be addressed in their entirety, as the use of turmeric is gaining rapidly, not just in India but also globally.