Minister Thummala Nageshwar Rao has asked the Central Government to take action to help turmeric farmers. He wrote a letter to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, highlighting the falling prices of turmeric. Currently, turmeric prices range between Rs. 17,000 and Rs. 11,000 per quintal, and there are signs that they may drop even further.
Turmeric is grown on about 42,093 acres in the state, producing around 1,25,436 metric tons. Thummala pointed out that unsold stock from last year is still available, and prices have fallen by 17% to 27% over the last two years. He is pushing for the Market Intervention Scheme through NAFED, as recommended by the Swaminathan Committee, to stabilize prices based on cultivation costs.
Many turmeric farmers are struggling to get fair prices for their produce. This has led to protests, with farmers demanding government help. They feel that they are being unfairly treated in the market and are frustrated with the situation.
With the harvest season approaching in March, Thummala has called for urgent action to prevent further financial losses for farmers. He stressed that the government must step in to ensure that farmers receive fair and sustainable prices for their crops.
