Mizoram A Turmeric Powerhouse

Huge potential for turmeric in Northeast India

Guwahati, May 27 : The North Eastern region offers great potential for large scale cultivation of many spices.

In terms of area, turmeric is the third largest crop in the region. However, its productivity in the region is only 1.5 tonnes against 3.9tonnes / ha in the country.

According to Dr. S.V. Ngachan, Director, ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, “after much research and demonstration, we have identified two varieties of turmeric, Lackadong and Megha varieties for their higher yield and quality.”

Good yielder

“Trials in Sikkim, Mizoram, Tripura and other states, proved that Megha and Lackadong yield curcumin of not less than 6.5 per cent. The average yield is around 30-32 tonnes per ha. In addition oleoresin content is also very high for these varieties,” adds Dr. Ngachan.

“So far under NAIP [National Agricultural Innovation Project], we have been able to spread these varieties in around 33,000 hectares in the north east,” he adds.

The biggest challenge faced by the turmeric growers in the region is lack of premium price for the produce.

Post harvest losses of almost all the farm produce in the region are very high due to near zero facility for their handling, processing, value addition, packaging and even organized marketing.

It is an irony that though the region produces best quality turmeric, ginger, pineapple, orange, apple etc., there are very few processing units for any of these crops.

Processing units

“To help the farmers, ICAR and NAIP have set up some semi processing units in seven districts of NEH Region,” says Dr. Ngachan.

Earlier farmers were incurring heavy loss due to huge transportation cost for ferrying their produces to processing units in far off places.

But now farmers, after drying the turmeric in the field can bring them to the unit for processing.

After packaging, they will sell it either directly or through the ICAR Farmers'Association for marketing under the logo of ICAR.

“When compared to Kerala or Andhra, NEH varieties are rich in curcumin and oleoresin content. We should be able to offer farmers a premium price by setting up semi processing units in various parts of the region with the help of entrepreneurs and industry people,” he adds.

For details contact Dr. S.V.Ngachan, email:svngachan@rediffmail.com, phone :0364-2570257.