marketing prospects and challenges of turmeric in northeast india
Answers
Explanation:
Horticulture has established its credibility in improving income through increased productivity, generating employment, enhancing exports and providing nutritional security to its growers. It has played a significant role in improving the economic status of our farmers and women empowerment. The NorthEastern Region of India has been blessed with agro-climatic conditions pre-eminently suited for a variety of horticultural crops. One of the major deficiencies is scientific exploitation of this potential with a sound marketing network. Among the spice crops, turmeric being a short gestation crop, is an ideal crop for the poor farmers and is doing extremely well in Mizoram. A very good variety called "RCT-I" procured from Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Barapani in 2004 has been successfully multiplied by the Department of Horticulture and a sizeable quantity of this variety has been produced in Mizoram today for processing along with other popular variety known as "Lakadong". Presently, the Multifarming Cooperative Society, Reiek is processing turmeric and packed turmeric powder is being marketed. The study is conducted through a sample of 74 turmeric farmers in Reiek area through a structured questionnaire. This paper tries to find the socioeconomic profile of the farmers, reasons for producing as a sustainable income and problems faced by the farmers. It also divulges into the management of harvesting and marketing of the produce. The study finds that Mizoram is still a long way to go in developing its horticulture sector. Skill development is necessary for increasing the productivity and success of this product. The short life of the turmeric produce makes the Mizo farmer vulnerable in absence of proper post harvest processing facilities and marketing infrastructure.