Government of India notifies establishment of National Turmeric Board

The Government of India recently notified the constitution of the National Turmeric Board. The National Turmeric Board will focus on the development and growth of turmeric and turmeric products in the country.

The National Turmeric Board will provide leadership on turmeric-related matters, augment the efforts, and facilitate greater coordination with Spices Board and other Government agencies in the development and growth of the turmeric sector.

There is significant potential and interest worldwide in the health and wellness benefits of turmeric, which the Board will leverage to increase awareness and consumption further, develop new markets internationally to increase exports, promote research and development into new products, and develop our 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. The Board will also take steps to safeguard further and usefully exploit turmeric’s full potential for humanity.

The activities of the Board will contribute towards greater well-being and prosperity of the turmeric growers through their focused and dedicated attention to the sector and the larger value addition closer to the farms, which would provide better realization to the growers for their produce. The Board’s activities into research, market development, increasing consumption, and value addition will also ensure that our growers and processors continue to maintain their pre-eminent position in the global markets as exporters of high-quality turmeric and turmeric products.

The Board shall have a Chairperson to be appointed by the Central Government, members from the Ministry of AYUSH, Departments of Pharmaceuticals, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Commerce & Industry of the Union Government, senior State Government representatives from three states (on a rotation basis), select national/state institutions involved in research, representatives of turmeric farmers and exporters, and have a Secretary to be appointed by the Department of Commerce.

India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric in the world. In the year 2022-23, an area of 3.24 lakh ha was under turmeric cultivation in India, with a production of 11.61 lakh tones (over 75% 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.

India has more than 62% share of world trade in turmeric. During 2022-23, 1.534 lakh tones of turmeric and turmeric products valued at 207.45 million USD was exported by more than 380 exporters The leading export markets for Indian Turmeric are Bangladesh, UAE, USA and Malaysia. With the focused activities of the Board, it is expected that turmeric exports will reach USD 1 Billion by 2030.