The district already produces about 2000 tonnes of turmeric per annum, for which there is a good demand as the tribal farmers use natural fertilisers. However, efforts would be made to produce at least 200 tonnes of turmeric per annum for exports.

Phulbani is already known as a pioneer district in production of turmeric and ginger in the state. To boost spices cultivation, the state government launched a special programme in the district in 1995.

The Rs 3.09 crore programme is being implemented with the financial support from the Union and state governments. According to district collector Ashok Kumar Meena, there is a demand for turmeric in US and European countries. While ordinary turmeric sells at $100 per quintal, turmeric produced by using bio-fertiliser fetches upto $300 per quintal in theglobal market.So to produce exportable turmeric, the district administration has sought the help of experts from the Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT). The idea is to create a brandname for the Phulbani turmeric in the global market, the district collector said.

The state-owned Agriculture Promotion & Investment Corp Ltd (Apicol) is negotiating with some leading Indian exporters. Already, Golden Temple Export House, the state-owned Orissa Small Industries Corp and a Mumbai-based export firm have tied up with the farmers to buy their stock from the district. In the international market, turmeric is mainly traded in whole form. The United Arab Emirates, USA, UK, Singapore and Japan are major buyers of turmeric from India.

India produces 70 per cent of the world's turmeric. However, of late, China, Peru and Thailand have emerged as a source for turmeric. In India, Orissa is the second largest turmeric producing state after Andhra Pradesh, and most of it is grown in Phulbani district.

Thecool climate of the hilly district has been found suitable for cultivation of spices. Besides turmeric, ginger is grown in a large area of the district. Particularly, the Phiringia, Nuagoan, G Udayagiri, Raikia and Daringbadi blocks are considered to be traditional areas of turmeric and ginger cultivation. Efforts have already been initiated to produce fibre-free ginger for the foreign market by using bio-fertiliser. The district administration has launched a special campaign to motivate the tribal farmers to grow fibre-free ginger.

To boost turmeric and ginger production, the state government is proposing to supply 3700 quintals of seeds during the current fiscal. Last year, it supplied 2592 quintals of turmeric and ginger seeds to the farmers.To increase the area under cultivation, the government is also encouraging farmers of Koraput, Kalahandi and Bolangir to take up ginger and turmeric farming.

According to the state agriculture commissioner, M Rajamani, demand for turmeric is expected to increasesharply because of intrinsic qualities, as well as its natural yellow colour. The world over, synthetic colouring and flavouring materials are being replaced by natural colours.

On account of the therapeutical properties of turmeric, it is used as a ingredient in preparing a variety of medicines, ointments, tonics and antiseptic preparations. The preference for natural ingredients gives turmeric a prime position, especially in preparations for application on the skin, he said.