Turmeric should be removed from spices list: MP Arvind

Nizamabad: MP D Arvind demanded that turmeric should be removed from the list of spices. Speaking at a turmeric committee meeting here on Wednesday, he said that turmeric board should be set up to benefit the farmers.

He expressed surprise as to who added turmeric in the spices' list for decades. Since turmeric is used as an antibiotic, he felt that it is wrong to include it in spices list. He criticised the inclusion of turmeric in the spices board.

The MP said the turmeric farmers are concerned about the board since it is the major crop in Nizamabad district. The farmers want not only the minimum support price, but also establishment of a turmeric board, he added. If a board is set up for coconut crop, why not for turmeric? he questioned. Farmers are against the inclusion of turmeric in spices.

The MP said turmeric crop will be picked up in January and the previous authorities should report to the government on the formation of turmeric board.

Vietnam, which acquired knowledge about turmeric crop from India, has started cultivating the crop in their country. Our country should be ashamed of the fact that today turmeric worth Rs 320 crores is being imported from that country," MP Arvind stated. Vietnamese expats are doing turmeric exports worth 12 billion crores annually, he added.