Turmeric farmers in Erode, Tamil Nadu, have seen a significant increase in procurement prices, nearly tripling from around Rs 5,000-6,000 per quintal last year to Rs 15,000 per quintal this year, due to a decrease in supply. Erode, known as the turmeric hub, has an average annual production of 22 tonnes. The procurement season, running from January to June, started a month late this year, with the price of fresh turmeric currently at Rs 16,400 per quintal, up from Rs 15,000 a week ago, and old turmeric at around Rs 14,500 per quintal. Daily turmeric trade in the area amounts to Rs 1-3 crore. The area under turmeric cultivation in Erode district decreased from 4694.435 hectares in the 2022-2023 season to 3742.7 hectares in the 2023-2024 season, due to the previously low procurement prices. With the recent price increase, there is an expectation that more farmers will return to cultivating turmeric.
