Easy quality testing solution for Turmeric

Value addition in the agri products may fetch good results. It also fulfils the Hon`ble PMs Vision of doubling the farmers income. While trading the farmers produce with the quality products by testing the products for the quality also fetches them good returns. The idea was materialized by the  MD of the NCDEX. It is helpful for the farmers.

Farmers at the turmeric market in Erode will now be able to get a more scientific evaluation of the content of curcumin in turmeric, thanks to the turmeric assaying labs established by the National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX) at Gobichettipalayam and Perundurai.

Curcumin which is a bright yellow chemical  is produced by some plants. It is a member of the ginger family and is sold as a herbal supplement, cosmetics ingredient, food flavoring, and food coloring.

This facility is expected to help farmers explore newer markets for their produce, besides getting a fair price. The lab at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Gobichettipalayam was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Minister for School Education KA Sengottaiyan.

Urging the farmers to make best use of the facility, the minister said that the growers and traders of the produce from Anthiyur, Sathyamangalam, Chamrajnagar, Erode, Modakuruchi and Shaivagiri along with Tirupur and Karur districts will now be able to get a fair assessment of the curcumin content.

The project has been funded by NCDEX through its CSR initiative PARAKH, and support of MYRADA. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Vijay Kumar, Managing Director, NCDEX, said this initiative is the first towards establishing a testing lab for curcumin in turmeric. NCDEX has invested around ₹20-25 lakh on the project, he said.

“Testing cannot be made compulsory, but considering the advantages the farmer will derive when a produce is scientifically tested, he can bargain for a better deal. Harmonization of quality standards and availability of an assaying infrastructure for turmeric would enable producers to integrate with eNAM, since quality assaying is a key requirement to participate on the platform,” the NCDEX MD said.

More than 3,500-4,000 farmers in Erode turmeric region are expected to benefit from this assaying facility. NCDEX sources said that about 7-8 samples could be tested every day and the result would be made available in three days.

Vijay Kumar said that as many as 22-odd products were traded on NCDEX platform, and testing made available for all the produce, but for different attributes. Testing of an attribute for a commodity could be buyer-specific, he added.