As the area under cultivation of turmeric falls alarmingly, Haryana is making efforts to revive the crop. As per figures released by the horticulture department, area under turmeric production was 330 hectare in 2004-05 and it reduced to 280 hectare in 2005-06. At present turmeric is grown over merely 29 hectare in the state.
Taking a step forward in this direction, Haryana State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation (Hafed) has proposed to set up a post harvest management and primary processing plant of turmeric at Radaur in Yamunanagar district. The processing plant, which will be the first one in the state, will have a capacity to process 14 tonne of turmeric per day and will catalyse an investment of Rs 1,75,00,000. Hafed has applied for subsidy on total cost under the National Horticulture Mission. A senior official of Hafed told FE, “This unit is expected to revive the crop and take the area under cultivation upto 1,000 hectare over a period of time. Tenders had been invited and the processing is going on. The project will be handed over to the private party by April end and it is projected to be fully functional by next turmeric season.”
The farmers in the Yamunanagar belt had been shifting to other crops due to marketing hitches faced in case of turmeric. Hafed will help the farmers by procuring the crop and sell the processed products under its own brands. The official further added, “Till now the turmeric was grown here and its processing was being done in Maharashtra.”
