The Hon'ble Governor of Telangana inaugurated the mega 'Farmers Interaction and Market Linkage Program' today at the Headquarters of the National Turmeric Board (NTB) in Nizamabad. Organized by the National Turmeric Board under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the program marked a significant milestone with the formal launch of the visionary 'Sunhari Mitti Abhiyaan', aimed at promoting natural farming, reducing chemical input dependencies, and positioning Indian turmeric in lucrative international markets.

Delivering the inaugural address, the Hon'ble Governor lauded the establishment of the National Turmeric Board in Nizamabad as a historic achievement fulfilling a long-cherished dream of Telangana's farmers. He appreciated the persistent efforts of Shri. Arvind Dharmapuri, Member of Parliament (Nizamabad) in turning the Turmeric Board into a reality. The Governor emphasized that turmeric is not just an agricultural crop but a symbol of India's cultural and Ayurvedic heritage ('Haridra Meha Nashini'). He urged the farming community to embrace natural farming under the 'Sunhari Mitti Abhiyaan', undertake post-harvest value addition, and produce residue-free turmeric to capture premium global markets across Asia, Europe, and the USA.

 

Shri. Arvind Dharmapuri, who graced the occasion as the Guest of Honor, highlighted the vital need for robust backward integration in the spice sector. He urged leading exporters and commercial processors present at the event to forge direct procurement partnerships and institutional tie-ups with Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), thereby eliminating intermediaries and enhancing farm-gate incomes.

The event witnessed active participation from the Hon'ble Members of Legislative Assembly, Shri Dhanpal Surya Narayana Gupta and Shri. Pydi Rakesh Reddy along with Special Chief Secretary shri. M Dana Kishore IAS, Bhavesh Mishra IAS, District Collector Shri. Sai Chaitanya IPS, Commissioner of Police.  The program witnessed the participation of Turmeric exporters, Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), agricultural scientists, and a large gathering of Turmeric farmers from across the Telangana region.

 

A comprehensive exhibition showcasing diverse turmeric varieties from prominent growing states, including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Odisha was organized during the event. The display featured a premium array of value-added products—such as turmeric oil, oleoresins, curcumin extracts, curcumin tablets, and turmeric honey—which drew significant interest and appreciation from both the visiting dignitaries and the farming community.

Smt. Bhavani Sri IAS, Secretary, National Turmeric Board, extended a warm welcome to all dignitaries and delegates and deliberated on the importance of Sunhari Mitti Abhiyan and initiatives of National Turmeric Board for the benefit of Indian turmeric Industry. Shri. Palle Ganga Reddy, Chairman, National Turmeric Board, delivered the keynote address outlining the Board's strategic roadmap on quality improvement training, post-harvest infrastructure subsidies and export promotion initiatives.

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