Context:

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the national headquarters of the National Turmeric Board in Nizamabad, Telangana, on 29 June 2025.

Key Points:

• The National Turmeric Board (NTB) was established by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India to promote the production, processing, marketing, research, and export of turmeric.
• The notification for the establishment of the Board was issued on 4 October 2023, and it was initially inaugurated on 14 January 2025 in New Delhi by Union Minister Piyush Goyal.
• Previously, turmeric was included under the jurisdiction of the Spices Board.
• With the establishment of the National Turmeric Board, the number of commodity-specific boards under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has increased to six.
• Previously, the Ministry had boards for five major products—Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Spices, and Tobacco.

Objectives and Functions of the National Turmeric Board:

• To provide leadership in matters related to turmeric and promote development and expansion initiatives.
• To encourage production, processing, value addition, marketing, research, and export of turmeric.
• To increase the income of turmeric farmers and strengthen their livelihood.
• To coordinate with Spices Board and other government agencies.
• To develop new turmeric-based products and increase India's share in the global turmeric market.
• To create awareness about the health and wellness benefits of turmeric.

Structure:

Chairperson:

• Appointed by the Central Government

Members:

• Representatives from:

• • Ministry of AYUSH
  • Department of Pharmaceuticals
  • Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • Department of Commerce and Industry

• Senior government representatives from three turmeric-producing states (e.g., Maharashtra, Telangana, Meghalaya) on a rotational basis
• Experts from national/state-level research institutions engaged in turmeric research
• Representatives of turmeric farmers and exporters
• A Secretary appointed by the Department of Commerce to oversee administrative functions

Nodal Ministry:

• Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Turmeric – General Information

Basic Introduction:

• Scientific Name: Curcuma longa
• Family: Zingiberaceae (Ginger family)
• Botanical Form: Underground stem (Rhizome)
• Nickname: “Golden Spice”
• Main Compound: Curcumin – a yellow chemical compound known for its medicinal properties.
• Curcuminoids: A class of natural phenolic compounds found in turmeric.

Agricultural and Environmental Aspects:

• Soil: Sandy loam or clay loam with good drainage
• Climate: Warm and humid (Tropical regions)
• Sowing Season: June–July (Monsoon)
• Harvesting Season: February–March

Production and Trade:

• India is the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of turmeric in the world.
• Major producing states:

• • Maharashtra
  • Telangana
  • Karnataka
  • Tamil Nadu
• Together, Telangana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh contribute ~63.4% to India's total turmeric production.
• India’s share in global turmeric trade: 62%

Key Export Markets:

• Bangladesh
• United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• United States (USA)
• Malaysia
• Target: The Government of India aims to increase turmeric exports to USD 1 billion by 2030.

Properties and Uses:

• Natural Indicator: Turmeric changes color depending on the pH of the solution.
• Used as:

• • A spice in cooking
  • An ingredient in cosmetics and medicines
  • A source of natural dye
  • A key component in Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani medicine systems

GI-Tagged Indian Turmeric Varieties:

• Lakadong Turmeric – Meghalaya
• Kandhamal Turmeric – Odisha
• Erode Turmeric – Tamil Nadu
• Armur Turmeric – Nizamabad, Telangana