Kavita meets Nirmala on setting up of Turmeric Board in Balkonda

New Delhi: Nizamabad MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha on Monday called on Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman and requested the latter to initiate immediate steps to solve the pending issues.

The Nizamabad MP urged the Union minister to expedite formation of a National Turmeric Board which has been a long-pending demand of turmeric farmers in the country. It may be mentioned here that Kavitha raised this issue repeatedly at various forums. She had met Prime Minister twice and the Minister thrice in the last three years.

Kavitha reminded the Union Minister that the Telangana Government had sanctioned Rs 30 crore and acquired 42 acres of land for setting up of a Turmeric Spice Park at Balkonda in Nizamabad district. The Spices Board under the Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry was entrusted with preparing DPR for the same and it was currently under process. She also invited the Minister to visit the Park and recommend to spice exporters to invest in the park so that turmeric farmers can get a higher remunerative price.

The Nizamabad MP also sought a ban on imports of turmeric in India which has been increasing at an alarming rate in the last five years. She also pointed out to the Union Minister that unless the import of cheaper varieties turmeric banned, the turmeric farmers in India will suffer badly in the days to come.