Mysuru: A sharp dip in turmeric prices has left thousands of farmers in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar reeling from financial distress. Chamarajanagar, which contributes 38% of Karnataka’s turmeric, saw nearly 20,600 acres under cultivation of the Erode-Salem variety this season, with 50,000 tons expected in yield. Mysuru farmers also joined in, cultivating 1,730 acres and expecting 7,590 tons.
However, prices have fallen drastically — from ₹14,000–₹16,000 per quintal in January to just ₹11,000 now, with the lowest reported at ₹11,500 in APMC markets. This downturn has dashed the hopes of many farmers who had shifted from crops like tobacco to turmeric, especially in Hunsur taluk.
Turmeric farmer Mahadevaswamy from Gundlupet shared his ordeal: “I spent nearly ₹1–1.5 lakh per acre, but now I’m only getting 25 quintals instead of 40. This crash has hit us hard.”
Last year brought high returns — even touching ₹20,000 per quintal, offering relief after a 13-year lull. But according to Chamarajanagar Turmeric Growers’ Association VP Nagarjunakumar, this year’s sudden crash is believed to be influenced by trader cartels creating artificial scarcity and manipulating prices.
Deputy Director of Horticulture, Manjunath Angadi, urged growers to store turmeric and wait until June/July when market prices typically stabilize. “Avoid panic-selling,” he advised. With ODOP status and rising demand in global markets, hope still glimmers for patient farmers.
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