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Chennai, Nov 10 (IANS) Turmeric farmers in Erode in Tamil Nadu are preparing for a major change in the way they sell their produce, moving from traditional auctions to an online market under the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) platform.
The decision comes in response to years of dissatisfaction with traditional auction systems that have failed to provide remunerative prices to farmers.
The e-NAM platform, funded by the Central Government and implemented by the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), enables transparent electronic trading of agricultural commodities across India.
Farmers and traders in Erode are planning to start online auctions by the end of this month, although training sessions are currently being conducted to familiarize them with the system.
Experts believe that access to a wider network of buyers through digital portals will help farmers explore new markets and achieve better prices.
The move is expected to eliminate the interference of middlemen and make the entire trading process more transparent and competitive.
Before the produce is uploaded for auction, the turmeric will be scientifically graded and standardized. The grading process will involve analyzing the total curcuminoid content – the major component responsible for turmeric’s color and medicinal properties – using a spectrophotometer test.
It ensures quality verification within minutes, replacing long-standing traditional laboratory-testing methods. Based on both physical and chemical parameters, the produce will be classified into different quality grades, leading to uniformity and trust between buyers and sellers.
Farmers have long blamed the outdated marketing practices of the Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Marketing Board (TNSAMB) for the stagnant pricing trend. The traditional system dominated by middlemen often resulted in farmers receiving only a fraction of the final market price.
Erode, along with neighboring districts like Coimbatore and Tiruppur, remains a major turmeric growing region in Tamil Nadu. Major farming areas include Kodumudi, Sivagiri, Bhavani, Gobichettipalayam, Enthiyur, Chennampatti, Sathyamangalam and Thalavady.
Of the two popular varieties grown in the region – Chinna Nadaan and Perum Nadaan – the former is most in demand due to its bright colour, strong aroma and disease resistance. There were once more than one lakh turmeric farmers in Tamil Nadu, but this number has declined to almost half due to price volatility and frequent losses.
With around 30,000 farmers still active in Erode alone, the transition to e-NAM has brought new hope for better income and renewed interest in turmeric cultivation.
–IANS
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