Turmeric cultivation

[chetanbr]

I HAVE AN AGRICULTURE LAND OF 5 ACRES WITH RED SOIL & GOOD BOREWELL WATER NEAR TUMKUR DISTRICT, KARNATAKA. I HAVE FEW QUERIES REGARDING CULTIVATION OF TURMERIC CAN ANYBODY HELP ME?

1. What is the spacing to be provided between each seed / plant?
2. How many seeds / plants can be sown in 1 Acre?
3. What is the yield per Acre?
4. What is the duration of the crop?
5. What would be the approximate cost of cultivation per Acre, from soil formation till growth?
6. What is the approximate price of Turmeric in the market?
7. Do any companies give contract farming with buyback?

Regards,
Chetan B R

 

[Ashwini]

Hi

Climate and soil

Turmeric requires a warm and humid climate. It can be grown in diverse tropical conditions from sea level to 1500mm above MSL within a temperature range of 20-30°C with a rainfall of 1500 mm or more per annum or under irrigated conditions. Though turmeric thrives in different types of soil ranging from light black loam, red soils to clayey loams, rich loamy soils having natural drainage and irrigation facilities are the best. Turmeric cannot stand water stagnation or alkalinity.

While preparing the land, minimum tillage operations may be adopted. Beds of 15 cm height,1 m width and of convenient length may be prepared giving at least 50 cm spacing between beds. In the case of the irrigated crop, ridges and furrows are prepared and the rhizomes are planted in shallow pits on the top of the ridges. Spacing generally adopted is 45-60 cm between the ridges and 15-20 cm between the plants. Solarisation of beds is beneficial in checking the multiplication of pests and diseases causing organisms. The polythene sheets used for soil solarisation should be kept away safely after the work is completed.

Planting material

Carefully preserved seed rhizomes free from pests and diseases which are collected from organically cultivated farms should be used for planting. However, to begin with seed material from high yielding local varieties may be used in the absence of organically produced seeds. For sowing, both the mother - rhizomes and fingers are used. The fingers are cut into 4 - 5 cm long pieces, and the mother rhizomes are planted as such or split into two; each having at least one sound bud. The seed is sometimes sprouted under moist straw before sowing.

Seed rate- A seed rate of 1000 kg rhizomes is required for planting one acre of land. As an intercrop in a fruit-garden seed rate may be as low as 125 - 200 kg per acre. Turmeric can be planted during April-July with the receipt of pre monsoon showers.

REgarding the prices and contract farming please contact the spice board.


REgards
Ashwini