Turmeric, an essential spice in Indian kitchens, is finally getting the support it needs. On June 29, 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the headquarters of the National Turmeric Board in Nizamabad, Telangana.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is native to India and has been studied extensively for its health benefits. Despite its popularity as a food and health supplement, turmeric farmers have failed to benefit much and have been demanding the formation of the Board for decades.
Notified in October 2023, the Board was launched in January this year but was yet to become functional.
Telangana was chosen as the headquarters as it is one of the top turmeric producing states — it was the third biggest producer of turmeric in 2024-25.
The National Turmeric Board will function under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which also controls boards for tea, coffee, rubber, spices and tobacco.
It will focus on the development and growth of turmeric and turmeric products in the country. The central government has also allocated Rs 200 crore to improve the quality of turmeric crop, carry out research and to improve farmers’ income.
In the absence of the specialised board, the responsibility of promoting turmeric fell on the Spices Board, which already has more than 50 spices on its plate.
The dedicated board for turmeric will ensure that the farmers have access to better planting material and technologies, along with support for marketing, according to a release by the Press Information Bureau (PIV). The National Turmeric Board will establish a complete chain for turmeric packaging, branding, marketing and export, it added.
Turmeric farmers will now be free from intermediary agents. In 2025, farmers received Rs 18,000-19,000 per quintal for turmeric, and efforts will be made to ensure farmers get an additional Rs 6,000-7,000 per quintal in the next three years, the PIB press note mentioned.
The government has set a target of achieving $1 billion in turmeric exports by 2030. Turmeric has become the star ingredient in several global food trends, most notably the turmeric latte or 'golden milk', a warming blend of milk, turmeric, spices and foam that's now served in cafes across countries. It is also a common ingredient in the organic beauty and healthcare industries worldwide.
The National Cooperative Exports Ltd and the National Cooperative Organics Ltd will support the export of turmeric by ensuring that the quality and safety standards of Indian turmeric meet global benchmarks. The bodies will also help arrange appropriate packaging, and provide training and skill development to farmers on how to harvest turmeric to avoid any export-related obstacles.
The boost to turmeric comes at a time when it has also become viral on social media platforms. The trend involves sprinkling turmeric into a glass of water placed above a flashlight. As the powder floats down it shimmers and glows as the particles scatter light and creates an illusion of a golden glow.
India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric in the world. In the year 2022-23, an area of 324,000 hectares were under turmeric cultivation, with a production of 1.16 million tonnes.
This was over 75 per cent of global turmeric production. India has more than 62 per cent share of world trade in turmeric.