Nizamabad MP K. Kavitha on Monday urged the Central Government to expedite the process for the formation of a Turmeric Board for the welfare of turmeric Farmers across the nation.
“The formation of a Turmeric Board which undoubtedly would prove to be a big boon for the Turmeric Farmers across our country,” Kavitha said in her letter to Union Minister of State for Commerce Nirmala Sitharaman. She said besides making representation to her in the past, she had personally briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the need for constitution of a Turmeric Board. She said inspite of proactive measures undertaken by the Telangana Government, the Centre’s response has been poor. She also reminded the Union Minister that she had led a delegation of turmeric farmers to meet with Union Minister for Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh in May 2016 to convey the urgent need for including turmeric among the other commercial crops for which a Minimum Support Price is guaranteed.
Further, Kavitha said she had also raised the issue in the Parliament repeatedly during the Question Hour as well as actively took it up in the proceedings of the Commerce Committee. She said during Committee’s tour to Hyderabad, the turmeric farmers’ delegation had presented a memorandum on 22nd April this year.
“Inspite of leaving no stone unturned to work for the benefit of turmeric farmers in the country, the actions undertaken by the Ministry in the span of last three years have not inspired much hope. This had led me to take the step of introducing a Private Member Bill for the formation of a Turmeric Board on 24th March 2017 to draw the attention of the house to such an important issue. At this juncture, I would request you to kindly take steps to expedite the formation of a Turmeric Board, which will actively help the turmeric farmers by way of introducing higher yielding varieties, latest technology inputs as well as seeking greater market access for exports and also ensuring a minimum support price for turmeric,” Kavitha said in her letter. (INN)