Bengaluru: India’s turmeric industry is moving beyond conventional spice exports towards high-value products such as curcumin extracts, oleoresins, turmeric oil, health beverages and ready-to-use formulations, as global demand for immunity-boosting products continues to rise in the post-Covid era.Speaking at the International Agri Tech and Plantation Conference, organised by the Indian Institute of Plantation Management (IIPM) in Bengaluru, National Turmeric Board secretary N Bhavani Sri said value addition will be critical if India is to retain its leadership in the global turmeric trade.“Traditionally, value addition meant turmeric powder for culinary or religious use. Today, international markets are looking for products such as curcumin extracts, oleoresins, turmeric oil, turmeric shots, turmeric latte mixes and even turmeric tea bags. These products offer significantly higher value and are where future demand lies,” she said.Oleoresins are concentrated extracts containing the spice’s flavour, aroma and colour compounds, and are widely used in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Turmeric shots are small, concentrated turmeric-based health drinks known for their wellness and immunity benefits, and are gaining popularity in countries such as Japan, according to Sri.India produces around 11 lakh metric tonnes of turmeric annually, accounting for nearly 80% of global production. The country’s turmeric exports are valued at about Rs 2,885 crore (around $340 million) a year, contributing more than 65% of global turmeric exports.Sri said Karnataka has considerable potential to benefit from this growing market. Chamarajanagar turmeric, in particular, is gaining recognition for its curcumin content of around 4-5%, good cultivation practices and pesticide residue levels that generally meet industry requirements.“Several companies are already sourcing directly from farmers in the region, and we have conducted training programmes in Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and other turmeric-growing districts to improve quality and market readiness,” she said.“India continues to lead the global turmeric market, but countries such as Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are rapidly improving cultivation practices and adopting new technologies. To retain our competitive edge, we must focus on quality, expand integrated pest management and organic cultivation, strengthen farm-level processing, and move further up the value chain instead of relying primarily on exports of raw turmeric,” Sri added.The National Turmeric Board, inaugurated in January 2025 and headquartered in Nizamabad, has been working to connect farmers with exporters while improving quality at the farm level and also supports farmers with subsidies for primary processing equipment such as dryers, boilers and washers.BOX: MSMEs must drive value addition in agriculture: KarandlajeUnion minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises Shobha Karandlaje said value addition is key to increasing farmers’ incomes and expanding India’s presence in global markets.Speaking at the conference, she said the MSME sector employs over 38 crore people, making it the country’s second-largest source of employment after agriculture. “Our Prime Minister always talks about doubling farmers’ income. This is possible only through value addition. New startups must identify market demand and build supply chains accordingly,” she said.Karandlaje urged entrepreneurs in the plantation and agriculture sectors to target international markets by improving product quality, branding and packaging. “Products such as spices, tea and coffee have significant export potential, but without improvements in quality, packaging and branding, we cannot fully tap global markets,” she said, adding that MSMEs should focus on skill development to help entrepreneurs compete internationally.
