PM announces setting up of National Turmeric Board

Subject: Geography

Section: Economic geography

Context announces setting up of National Turmeric Board

More about the news:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of a National Turmeric Board to support turmeric farmers, addressing a long-standing demand.
He highlighted India’s significant role in turmeric production and emphasized the need for a professional approach in the entire turmeric value chain, given increased global demand post-Covid.
India is the world’s leading turmeric producer, and aims to enhance its turmeric industry through this initiative.

Turmeric:

Turmeric (Curcuma longa): 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.
Significance: The spice’s color comes mainly from curcumin, a bright yellow phenolic compound that has been in the news for its ostensible potential to fight cancer. As a result, the demand for turmeric with high curcumin content has risen.
Climate: It requires temperatures between 20 and 30 °C (68 and 86 °F) 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.