Areas under turmeric cultivation decreasing

Erode, Jul 10: Many

have stopped

cultivation this year due to drought and also decreased price of the produce and with poor arrivals at the market here, there is a possibility that prices would go over Rs 18,000 per quintal by Jan next, trade sources said.

Possibilities are bright on turmeric price going above Rs 18000 a quintal by Jan 2013, Deivasigamani, President, All India Turmeric Farmers Council, told reporters here today.

The Council will conduct a meeting here on Jul 21 to decide the price fixation for turmeric, he said, adding, from now onwards farmers themselves would fix its price.

In Tamil Nadu, he claimed that the cultivable area has been decreased for want of proper water facilities, while in Karnataka turmeric farmers did not sow their turmeric during May, Jun and Jul.

In Andhra Pradesh, another Turmeric centre, only 70 per cent of the usual turmeric growing lands have been sown with the seeds this year. Deivasigamani said in Maharashtra also the farmers reduced the extent of turmeric growing.

He said turmeric prices have now started increasing and claimed that many farmers have started stocking the produce. Meanwhile for the second day, there was a decrease in arrival of turmeric in the market here.

PTI