To promote turmeric crop research, development, and associated processing industries, the Maharashtra Turmeric Research and Training Institute is being established. This institute will be located either at Wasmat T-Point, Mouje Borala, Taluka Wasmat, District Hingoli, or on land belonging to other government departments.
The institute will focus on turmeric crop production, storage, processing, value addition, facilitating access to local and global markets, and supporting export-related businesses. It will help farmers connect with various schemes of the central and state governments to avail subsidies and recommend individual farmer cases to the concerned departments.
Under this institute, a high-tech nursery will be established to make turmeric saplings available to farmers. A tissue culture lab will be set up for plant production, and a quality testing facility will be established to analyze pesticide residues, curcumin levels, heavy metals, microbes, nutrients, and other components. An ICT-based information technology facility will be developed for pest and disease forecasting. The institute will also study the effects of changing climate patterns on rainfall, cropping seasons, crop growth, and productivity.
Under this institute, a high-tech nursery will be established to make turmeric saplings available to farmers. A tissue culture lab will be set up for plant production, and a quality testing facility will be established to analyze pesticide residues, curcumin levels, heavy metals, microbes, nutrients, and other components. An ICT-based information technology facility will be developed for pest and disease forecasting. The institute will also study the effects of changing climate patterns on rainfall, cropping seasons, crop growth, and productivity.
A Market Intelligence Cell will be set up to study and survey the industrial demand for turmeric, future pricing trends, market demand, and supply, and to make this information accessible to turmeric growers.
Through these efforts, the institute aims to develop a Centre of Excellence for spice crops in the state. Along with increasing turmeric cultivation, it is also essential to develop supporting market infrastructure. Therefore, two separate committees—Turmeric Production Committee and Turmeric Marketing Committee—will be formed within the proposed institute to work specifically on these areas.
Efforts will be made to utilize the expertise of private institutions and researchers involved in turmeric research. A new turmeric research center will be established in the jurisdiction of Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University through the Maharashtra Council of Agricultural Education and Research (MCAER). Moreover, considering the area under turmeric cultivation in the state, a proposal will be pursued with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi to establish an independent Turmeric Research and Training Institute, similar to national-level institutes that exist for other crops.
To govern this proposed institute, a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Member of Parliament (MP), or Member of the Rajya Sabha will be appointed as Chairperson. For administrative regulation and research, the available manpower from the Department of Agriculture and Agricultural Universities will be utilized, and any additional required staff will be recruited on a contract basis.
