HYDERABAD

The National Turmeric Board on Tuesday conducted a farmer awareness and quality improvement training programme at Kowtla (B) in Nirmal district to promote the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in turmeric cultivation.

Over 100 farmers and several Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) from turmeric-growing areas in the district attended the event. The Board selected Nirmal district for the initiative to ensure that pesticide residue levels in turmeric are reduced and overall quality is improved. It aims to reduce residue levels and promote residue-compliant turmeric suitable for premium export markets through the focused awareness programmes and training.

Speaking to farmers, Secretary of the Board N. Bhavani Sri explained the importance of adopting IPM practices to improve turmeric quality and strengthen India’s export potential. She stated that export markets such as the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and Korea follow strict regulations for pesticide residues, aflatoxins and other contaminants.

Suggesting the farmers to adopt scientific cultivation practices at the farm level to ensure that turmeric meets international quality standards, she highlighted how biological, mechanical and botanical approaches could help farmers manage pests while reducing dependence on synthetic pesticides.

Use of biological agents such as ‘trichoderma viride and pseudomonas fluorescence’ along with pheromone traps and neem-based formulations could help manage diseases such as rhizome rot and maintain crop health. The Board Secretary said most turmeric export quality parameters were determined at the farm level. The adoption of good agricultural practices would play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with international standards.

Issues such as aflatoxin contamination, microbial contamination including salmonella and pesticide residue levels were often linked to cultivation practices, post-harvest handling, moisture management and drying techniques.

Stating that organic production was important for good exports, she said the conversion process would require soil replenishment and a transition period of nearly three years to meet certification requirements. Once IPM practices were established, transitioning to organic cultivation would become easier in the next stage, she noted.

The Board implemented a pilot project to promote exports in the Morthad region in the past and it is working closely with progressive farmers to develop organic and residue-free cultivation techniques. The Board Secretary stated that the country exported about 1.76 lakh tonnes of turmeric valued at about US$ 341.54 million in 2024–25.