Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to inaugurate the National Headquarters of the Turmeric Board in Nizamabad on June 29. Kishan Reddy, State BJP President and Union Minister for Coal and Mines, hailed the establishment of the board as a landmark achievement for turmeric farmers nationwide and a significant moment for Telangana.
Two Decades of Non-Stop Struggle
The launch of the National Turmeric Board in Nizamabad marks a pivotal advancement for turmeric farmers in Telangana, fulfilling longstanding demands for improved pricing, infrastructure, and access to markets. The board is dedicated to addressing issues related to minimum support price (MSP), research initiatives, and export objectives, with the aim of delivering substantial benefits to farmers both in Telangana and across the country. Its establishment is poised to revitalize turmeric cultivation, empower farmers, and enhance India's position in the global turmeric market.
Nizamabad - A Turmeric Produce Hub
Nizamabad stands as one of India's premier turmeric-producing regions, playing a crucial role in Telangana’s contribution of 40% to the nation’s turmeric cultivation, which spans around 2.5 lakh acres. The call for a dedicated Turmeric Board to tackle challenges such as MSP, marketing, and value addition has been a pressing issue since 2006, initially advocated by the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) and later gaining traction during the Telangana statehood movement. The National Turmeric Board is committed to promoting turmeric cultivation, processing, marketing, and exports, with a focus on enhancing farmer welfare across 20 states, including Telangana.
Timeline of the Farmer’s Struggle
2006: The Swadeshi Jagran Manch raised the initial call for the creation of a Turmeric Board, stressing the necessity for institutional support for the region's turmeric farmers.
2014: Following the formation of Telangana, BRS (then TRS) MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha pledged to establish a Turmeric Board, but did not fulfill this promise during her term.
2019: BJP MP Dharmapuri Arvind entered the fray with a commitment to create the National Turmeric Board (NTB), even signing a judicial bond promising to resign if he failed to deliver within five days post-election. His victory over Kavitha was significantly bolstered by the backing of 180 turmeric farmers who ran as independents in protest of the BRS government's inaction.
2020: In lieu of a dedicated board, the Spices Board opened a regional office in Nizamabad, which fell short of addressing the farmers’ calls for a specialized turmeric board.
October 2023: In a significant move ahead of the Telangana Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the establishment of the NTB, with the Union government formally notifying its constitution. However, the announcement left the headquarters' location unspecified, prompting doubts among farmers.
January 14, 2025: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal virtually inaugurated the NTB in Nizamabad during the Sankranti festival, with the attendance of BJP MP Dharmapuri Arvind and other leaders. Palle Ganga Reddy, a turmeric farmer and BJP state secretary from Ankapur village in Armoor mandal, was appointed as the inaugural chairman for a three-year term.
May 28, 2025: The Telangana government provided a 4,052-square-foot building at the MLA camp office for the NTB, charging a monthly rent of Rs 52,676, which allowed the board to begin its operations fully.
June 29, 2025: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to officially inaugurate the NTB office in Nizamabad, unveiling the board’s logo and addressing a gathering of farmers. Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy underscored that Nizamabad was chosen as the headquarters amidst requests from other states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, characterizing this decision as a “gift” to the farmers of Telangana.
Structure and Objectives of the NTB
National Turmeric Board (NTB), operating under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, comprises representatives from various ministries including AYUSH, Pharmaceuticals, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and Commerce. Additionally, it features rotating representatives from states such as Telangana, Maharashtra, and Meghalaya.
Board's primary objectives are to:
Promote the cultivation, processing, and marketing of turmeric.
Increase farmer incomes through improved pricing and support mechanisms.
Advance research initiatives, develop new turmeric products, and enhance logistics and supply chains.
Establish quality and safety standards for turmeric production and exports.
Raise awareness about turmeric's medicinal properties, especially the anti-inflammatory and digestive health benefits of curcumin.
Political Controversies
The controversy surrounding the establishment of the National Turmeric Board (NTB) has highlighted its significance as a pressing regional and electoral issue in Nizamabad.
Dharmapuri Arvind’s 2019 campaign promise to set up the NTB within five days of winning the election ultimately went unfulfilled, sparking widespread discontent among constituents. BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha, who lost to Arvind in that election, has been vocal in her criticism, emphasizing his inability to persuade the central government to support the board’s creation. She pointed out the BJP's inadequate financial commitment, citing a provision of only Rs 200 per farmer from a purported Rs 100 crore budget, which further stoked frustration among the farming community. In 2021, the Congress party organized protests in Delhi, including special trains for turmeric farmers to express their grievances. The intensity of the issue was underscored during the 2019 elections, when 180 farmers chose to run as independents against Kalvakuntla Kavitha, along with 50 others who contested against Prime Minister Modi in Varanasi. However, a recent announcement in October 2023 by PM Narendra Modi has been met with enthusiasm from turmeric farmers. The BJP, with leaders like Arvind Dharmapuri, Modi, and Kishan Reddy, has taken credit for the establishment of the NTB, framing it as a fulfilment of their electoral commitments from 2019 and 2023. The decision to base the NTB headquarters in Nizamabad has also sparked competition, with other states, including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh, vying for the prestigious location. BJP leaders have celebrated this outcome as a significant win for Telangana.
Benefits of the National Turmeric Board
The newly established National Turmeric Board (NTB) is anticipated to bring numerous advantages to turmeric farmers and the agricultural economy in Telangana. A primary benefit is price stabilization through the creation of a fund aimed at ensuring fair prices, addressing the longstanding call for a minimum support price (MSP) of at least Rs 15,000 per quintal. Over the years, turmeric prices have surged from Rs 5,000 to an impressive Rs 22,000 per quintal, a shift partially attributed to advocacy efforts. To safeguard farmers against natural disasters, the board will implement measures to cushion their financial losses. Additionally, it plans to offer hybrid turmeric varieties at subsidized rates to enhance crop yields.
Expanding Market & Increasing Exports
The NTB is set to improve logistics and supply chains, facilitating access to both domestic and international markets. India currently holds a 62% share of the global turmeric trade, exporting 162,000 tonnes valued at $226.5 million during the 2023-24 period. Key export markets include Bangladesh, the UAE, the USA, and Malaysia. The board will also promote value-added turmeric products, such as curcumin-based supplements, to boost export revenues.
Furthermore, the NTB will support research into high-yield turmeric varieties and innovative products that harness the medicinal properties of turmeric, including the anti-inflammatory and digestive benefits of curcumin. By collaborating with organizations like the Spices Board and ministries such as AYUSH and Pharmaceuticals, the board aims to drive innovation in turmeric-based health products. To reduce post-harvest losses and enhance farmers' incomes, it will facilitate the construction of storage facilities such as godowns and cold storage units, along with robust marketing systems.
The pursuit of a geographical indication (GI) tag for Armoor turmeric by Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University is expected to elevate its market value. To combat the decline in turmeric cultivation area—from 1.10 lakh acres in 2014-15 to just 42,000 acres in recent years—the NTB seeks to reverse the trend of shifting to other crops, which has been driven by high cultivation costs (approximately Rs 1.5 lakh per acre) and insufficient MSP. By concentrating on 20 states, particularly Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, which show significant growth potential, the board aims to invigorate regional economies and support local farmers.
