Kandhamal turmeric growers seek hike in procurement price

Berhampur: Turmeric growers of Kandhamal district, who suffered a huge loss for the past two years due to Covid-19, have demanded the procurement price of their produce to be increased from Rs 60 per kg to Rs 100.
Thousands of growers had hoped to make a profit after the district’s organic turmeric received the geographical indication (GI) tag in 2019. However, the farmers’ dream shattered after the pandemic hit.
At present, the Kandhamal Apex Spices Association for Marketing (KASAM), a government-backed cooperative agency, is procuring the turmeric at Rs 60 per kg.The procurement price has not been revised in the past five years.
“As the pandemic situation has improved and the association started to export organic turmeric to other countries, we demand its base price to be increased to Rs 100 per kg. Cultivators who sustained heavy loss by distress selling would be benefited by the move,” said Kaibasi Majhi of Tumudibandh.
Turmeric cultivators placed their demand at a recent general body meeting of the association. Kandhamal collector Brundha D, however, told the farmers that the administration will consider their demand only after heavy export resumes.
“The pandemic is not over yet. The association has started exporting the product. We hope it will be picked up if the situation improves in other countries,” said KASAM secretary Sanjeet Patnaik.