Commercial turmeric farming in Ilam

Mangalbare- Rong rural municipality of Ilam district has launched commercial turmeric farming. With the help of Rong rural municipality, Echo Tea Cooperative, started the commercial turmeric farming in a bid to make farmers self-reliant and increase local production. Commercial turmeric cultivation was begun by merging three cooperatives established in the rural municipality—Echo Tea Producers Cooperative, Women Laligurans Cooperative, and Hanspokhari Cardamom Producers Cooperative, said Manager Ganesh Aryal.

The turmeric power produced commercially has been named 'Rong Turmeric Powder'. The powder of essential spice has been handed over to the rural municipality. The local level has also assured the management of market for turmeric powder, said Chairperson Min Kumar Syangbo. Farmers have been provided with turmeric roots (rhizome) for the commercial cultivation since last year. The farmers launched the commercial farming of spice after the wild animal like monkey, boar and porcupine frequented fields and destroyed their crops. So far, 295 kg of turmeric powder has been produced. A kg of the spice powder is sold at Rs 500 to 1,000 per kg, it is said. The cooperative has 455 members.

Source: RSS