This story is from July 30, 2020

Lockdown brings Kandhamal turmeric trade to grinding halt

Lockdown brings Kandhamal turmeric trade to grinding halt
The Kandhamal Apex Spices Association for Marketing had sold around 1,200 tonne of haldi last year. But this time it has managed to sell only 70 tonne so far
BHUBANESWAR: The business of Kandhamal haldi (turmeric), which had received the GI tag on April 1 last year, has been badly hit owing to the lockdown. Farmers also faced difficulties in marketing this cash crop this year.
The Kandhamal Apex Spices Association for Marketing (KASAM), an apex body of 61 spice development societies in the district, had sold around 1,200 tonne of haldi last year. But this time it has managed to sell only 70 tonne so far.

“Our association comprising 12,000 farmers has already procured more than 600 tonne of Kandhamal haldi from them this year, but we could not market it because of the lockdown and the pandemic. Four months have already passed, but our business is not picking up,” Sanjit Kumar Pattnaik, secretary of KASAM, said.
He added, “Haldi is a major spice found in every Indian household. But Kandhamal haldi is famous for its uniqueness and aroma. The GI tag has helped us market the product effectively. This variety of turmeric is popular in foreign countries. It is organic by default. We generally export 95% of our procurement to the USA, Europe, Australia, Japan, Korea and other countries through our 60 clients. But the Covid-19 has hampered our business,” he added.
Around 40,000 farmers in the district produce approximately 1.3 lakh metric tonne (MT) of raw turmeric on 12,710 hectares per year. After drying, it comes down to 26000 MT. While KASAM procures around 2,000 MT of dry turmeric, the rest is purchased by the traders.
“Other traders did not come to the district owing to the lockdown. Farmers are facing problems in selling their products. “These traders also work as middlemen and pay less than the KASAM. Owing to lack of any procurement system like paddy in the district, farmers face distress sale every year,”
Nilambar Pradhan, a farmer from Daringibadi in Kandhamal district, said.
Raja Karna, a haldi farmer from Phiringia block in Kandhamal district, said they harvest haldi in the month of January and February. After processing and drying it, they sell it in April and May. “This year, farmers could not sell their products in April because of the lockdown restrictions. Traders did not come to purchase their haldi. Many farmers are waiting to sell their product,” he added.
He further said the district administration had helped farmers sell their haldi in May. Some traders had even purchased the product. But it was very less compared to the last year's business, he added.
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About the Author
Hemanta Pradhan

Hemanta Pradhan writes for the Times of India on education, hospital issues, transport, agriculture & tribal affairs. He has been working as a journalist since 2011. He has a PG degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from Berhampur University. He has won Laadli Media Awards for gender sensitivity.

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