TURMERIC
- AGRICULTURE
News: PM announces setting up of National
Turmeric Board
What's
in the news?
●
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the
setting up of a National Turmeric Board, fulfilling a long-pending demand from
the stakeholders in the sector.
Key
takeaways:
●
The Board is expected to help develop and
grow the spice’s market in India, which controls over 62% share of the turmeric world trade.
Turmeric:
●
It is a perennial herbaceous plant of the ginger family.
●
The plant’s underground stems or rhizomes have been used as a spice, dye, medicine, and religious maker
since antiquity.
Climate:
●
It requires temperatures between 20 to
30°C and a considerable amount of annual rainfall to thrive.
Largest
Producer:
●
India
is the largest producer and exporter of turmeric in the world.
●
Turmeric occupies about 6% of the total
area under spices and condiments in India.
Largest
Producer State:
●
Telangana
was the leading producer of turmeric in India during 2018.
●
Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were second and
third in the ranking that year.
Significance:
●
The spice’s colour comes mainly from curcumin, a bright yellow phenolic
compound that has been in the news for its ostensible potential to fight
cancer.
National
Turmeric Board:
●
The National Turmeric Board was
established by the Government of India for the development and growth of the
turmeric sector in the country.
Objectives:
●
Increasing awareness and consumption of
turmeric.
●
Developing new international markets.
●
Promoting research and development.
●
Enhancing value-added turmeric products to
align with the global interest in the health benefits of this spice.
●
Enhancing quality and food safety.
Nodal
Ministry
- Ministry
of Commerce and Industries.
Composition:
●
Chairperson appointed by the Central
Government, responsible for providing strategic direction to the Board’s
activities.
●
Secretary appointed by the Department of
Commerce, responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Board.