iGrain India - The turmeric crop along the Hingoli line in Maharashtra, a key region for turmeric production, is facing challenges this year.
Although the sowing of turmeric was successful, excessive rainfall during the monsoon led to flooding in the fields, which triggered a disease outbreak.
As a result, the crop began to rot, prompting farmers to apply insecticides multiple times, which, in turn, led to further damage and drying of the plants.
Typically, insecticides are applied only once, but the repeated treatments caused more stress to the plants.
Shri Chakradhar Ramrao Shinde, Director of M/s Rokdeshwar Farmer Producer Company Limited, indicated that the combination of flooding, disease, and overuse of insecticides has resulted in a reduced yield and compromised quality.
While the usual yield per acre is around 18 to 20 quintals, this year it is expected to be only 12 to 15 quintals. Moreover, the quality of the turmeric is expected to be lower than usual.
The reduced supply has implications for market prices. Currently, export-quality turmeric is priced at Rs 140-145 per kilogram, but prices are anticipated to rise to Rs 165-170 in the coming months, reflecting the scarcity of the crop.
The situation underscores the vulnerability of turmeric farming to climatic fluctuations and disease, which can significantly affect both production and quality.