Lok Sabha Question No. 436 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-04
Subject: National Turmeric Board
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Balashowry Vallabhaneni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 436 ANSWERED ON 04/02/2025

## NATIONAL TURMERIC BOARD

## 436. SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मं त्री ) be pleased to state:

(a) whether  it  is  true  that  the  Government  has  inaugurated  the  National  Turmeric  Board  in Telangana recently;

(b) if so, the details of target and objectives of the proposed board;

(c) whether it is not true that there are genuine demand from Andhra Pradesh for setting up of Chilli Board in Guntur district; and

(d) if  so,  the  details  of  constraints  that  the  Government  have  to  constitute  Chilli  Board  in Guntur, AP?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद)

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) Yes,  the  Government  of  India  has  inaugurated  the  National  Turmeric  Board  on 14.01.2025, with its headquarters at Nizamabad, Telangana.

(b) The  Government  notified  the  establishment  of  the  'National  Turmeric  Board'  vide notification dated 04.10.2023. Paragraph 2 of the said notification lays down the objectives of the National Turmeric Board, which are listed below:

(i)    Promote new product development and value addition in turmeric;

(ii)  Promote  awareness  and  consumption  of  turmeric  and  turmeric  products  in  international markets;

(iii) Facilitate market research in potential international markets for development of value-added turmeric products;

(iv)  Facilitate  creation  and  improvement of infrastructure  and logistics for exports of turmeric and turmeric products;

(v)  Encourage  building  of  resilient  and  sustainable  supply  chains  for  turmeric  and  turmeric products by strengthening forward and backward linkages;

(vi) Promote compliance with quality and safety standards across the supply chain of turmeric;

(vii)  Promote  capacity  building  and  skill  development  of  turmeric  growers  for  value  addition activities;

(viii)  Strengthen  documentation  of  traditional  knowledge  related  to  use  of  turmeric  and  its applications;

(ix) Encourage studies, clinical trials and research on medicinal, health and wellness enhancing properties of turmeric; and

(x)  Any other objective as may be determined by the Central Government for promotion and development of the turmeric sector.

(c) & (d) Representations have been received for establishment of Chilli Board;  however currently, the Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MA&FW) and Spices Board under the  Ministry  of  Commerce  &  Industry  already  cover  the  various  aspects  of  production, research,  quality  management,  domestic  marketing  and  export  promotion  of  spices  including Chilli in the Country.

Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  implements  several  programmes  under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for the development of horticulture crops including Chilli. The mission programmes are aimed at increasing production, productivity and quality of the produce to meet the growing demand in the domestic as well as export market. Major among them are area expansion, production and distribution of quality seeds, Integrated Pest and Disease Management / Integrated Nutrient Management, organic farming, mechanization, Integrated Post-harvest Management  etc. These programmes are mainly implemented in various states through the respective State Horticulture  Missions.

Spices Board as per its mandate undertakes activities for export promotion and quality management for exports of Chilli, besides supporting the chilli growers and other stakeholders on  post-harvest  improvement,  building  market  linkages  value  addition  etc.  The  Board  has established  a  Regional  Office,  Quality  Evaluation  Laboratory  and  a  Spice  Park  in  Guntur, Andhra Pradesh which provide support to chilli stakeholders and coordinate implementation of programs for the Chilli sector.

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