Turmeric farmers have demanded a high minimum support price (MSP) for the crop.
The All-India Turmeric Farmers’ Federation has decided that its members will not sell turmeric this season unless given a minimum price of Rs 90 per kg.
At present, there is no support price for turmeric as it is not deemed an essential commodity.
“Farmers at Erode and other production centres are agitating for declaration of a minimum support price (MSP) for turmeric. Farmers are demanding MSP of Rs 90 per kg and have decided that they would not sell their crop below Rs 90,” E Kumaraswamy, President of Turmeric Association of India said.
An estimated 80 per cent of the farmers of Erode district and other delivery centres have stopped bringing the produce to the mandis, Kumaraswamy added.
The estimated all India sowing of the turmeric this year has been 45-50 per cent of the last year, mainly because of low prices, delayed rains and better prices of other crops, market sources said.
Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have been experiencing cyclonic weather which also may impact the production.
Exporters are staying away from the market in the absence of fresh export orders, sources said.
However, traders on commodity exchanges see good opportunity to invest in turmeric for long-term due to increasing demand and lower output.