Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik stated that the government is pushing turmeric as a monocrop and intercrop, citing Goa’s climate and soil as ideal for its development.
According to Naik, the Scheduled Tribe Component of the Indian government has also developed a small-scale turmeric processing factory in Sankhali to make it easier for farmers to process and powder their turmeric.
In the assembly recently, Naik was answering Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco about the cultivation of turmeric in Goa.
In a written response, he stated that the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)-Spices in Goa, a centrally funded program, had introduced elite high-yielding turmeric varieties, Salem, Pitambar, and Waigaon, at the suggestion of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CCARI).
He claimed that from 2019 to 2022, these types were assessed during a three-year period. According to the Agriculture Minister, the average output of the Salem variety was 21.7 tonnes per hectare, whilst that of Waigaon was 15.7 hectares and Pitambar was 17.4 hectares.
Turmeric may be grown in Goa because to its climate and soil. Furthermore, bison and other wild creatures do not harm the crop. Turmeric may be grown as an intercrop in cashew plantations with adequate management because it doesn’t need special irrigation after the monsoon, according to Naik.
In response to a question about the measures being taken to increase turmeric cultivation, Naik stated that the state has been promoting turmeric cultivation as an intercrop in plantations of coconut, mango, and cashew where there is little water stagnation.
The crop is planted using the raised bed or ridge and furrow method, and organic or integrated nutrient management techniques. He noted that interested farmers and other stakeholders have received training on enhanced agricultural techniques.
