Production and Marketing of Turmeric in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Turmeric is an important medicinal and spice crop cultivated in India. India is the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of turmeric in the World. An attempt was made to analyze the production and marketing of turmeric from the top contributing districts in the state viz., Erode, Salem and Dharmapuri districts. The cost and returns of turmeric cultivation showed that it was remunerative as the BC ratio was 1.53 and the sample farmers marketed their produce through three channels. The marketing channel III was efficient as the producer share in consumer rupee was high compared to other channels. The constraints faced by the farmers in the production and marketing of turmeric were increasing labour cost, water scarcity, and fluctuating prices. The channel participants felt that proper cleaning and grading of produce ensured price benefits to all stakeholders. The study suggested the use of quality planting material and improved cultivars to increase the yield, export cluster formation at Erode and segmentation at processing level based on the purpose of use that would lead efficient functioning of supply chain partners.