Question : PRODUCTION OF TURMERIC

(a) the details of the quantity of turmeric produced in the country and the number of farmers involved in the cultivation, State/ UT-wise;

(b) the number of research centres for the development of turmeric quality improvements and the amount spent on research;

(c) the criteria for deciding Minimum Support Price (MSP) of turmeric and the current minimum support price of it;

(d) whether there is any proposal to set up a separate turmeric board in the country; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a): Details of the quantity of turmeric produced in States/UTs and the number of farmers involved in major turmeric producing States (2012-13) are at Annexure-I and Annexure-II respectively.

(b): Details of research centres for turmeric quality improvement and the amount spent on research are at Annexure-III.

(c): Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommends Minimum Support Price (MSP) at national level for 23 mandated agricultural commodities to the Government. Turmeric is not included in the list of 23 commodities above.

(d) & (e): There is no proposal to set up Turmeric Board in the country.