In a first of its kind of facilitation, market linkage has come as a boon for tribal turmeric farmers of Laxmipur block in Koraput. With ORMAS through KAPCO, the farmers sold about 21 metric tonne (MT) of turmeric to Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) Kisan’s Bangalore unit at Rs 9,200 a quintal on Saturday. Earlier, turmeric was sold to local traders at Rs 8,000 a quintal.
The district chapter of ORMAS engaged one self help group (SHG) and six farmer producer groups to procure turmeric from tribals, facilitated to market the produce through IFFCO Kisan, a cooperatve society in Bangalore and helped sell 21 MT. Tribal farmers of Champi, Timajhola, Koapadi, Lachamani, Toyaput and Pipalpadar produce good quality turmeric every year and sell it to local traders at throwaway prices. With the aid coming in, the tribals are now hopeful to reap benefit every year.
Koraput ORMAS chapter officer R Kartik said turmeric worth Rs 18 .86 lakh was sold to IFFCO Kisan.
“Earlier tribals were selling turmeric at Rs 75 to Rs 80 per kg to local traders but they sold the produce at Rs 92 a kg through ORMAS," said Kartik. He added, "According to a research our turmeric are having 5-6% of cucumin which can be used for medicine. So demand of our turmeric will increase in future. The district administration also played a key role in the marketing process."
Earlier eight hillbroom producer groups were formed at Semliguda, Potangi, Naryanpatna Block and financial support of Rs 2.04 lakh to each group was given and also they were tained on value addition on hillbroom with plastic and steel pipe which has created a record sale.