Do you know which crop makes the celebrities’ skin glow on their wedding day? Turmeric, or haldi as it is called in Hindi.

That’s just one of the numerous health benefits of this wonder crop. In India, turmeric was traditionally used for disorders of the skin, upper respiratory tract, joints, digestive system, and to prevent cancer as well. Today, turmeric is promoted as a dietary supplement for a variety of conditions, including arthritis, digestive disorders, respiratory infections, allergies, liver disease, depression, and many others. It is known for its antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidant, antiseptic, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, radioprotective, and digestive properties.

Haldi is grown in many states across India, but it is mainly cultivated in the southern states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka; the eastern states of Orissa and West Bengal; and the western state of Maharashtra. India is by far the largest producer and exporter of turmeric in the world, with close to 50,000 hectares under cultivation. Turmeric can only be grown in diverse tropical conditions, from sea level to 1,500 m above sea level, at a temperature range of 20–35°C, and with an annual rainfall of 1,500 mm or more.  

This crop has a cycle of nine months. It is sown from mid-April [after harvesting the wheat crop] to mid-May, and harvesting takes place in the month of February. After harvesting turmeric, farmers can use the same field for cultivating short-duration crops such as fodder or pulses; thus, a farmer can still get two crops, which is also the case in paddy and wheat rotation. It is a suitable crop as an alternative to rice cultivation, but it cannot be sold raw; it has to be processed. In addition, this crop can be grown under shade; therefore, farmers practicing agroforestry can also take advantage of it and earn additional income by cultivating it under popular plantations. This crop needs less water and is not affected by heavy rains; it is a sturdy crop. It does not require any pesticide or insecticide; only earthing [goddy] is required twice at the time of fertilizer application.

For haldi to be suitable for consumers, it must be processed from its raw form into a powdered format. This haldi production process involves the following steps:

1. Harvesting and Sorting: In this step, the haldi crop is harvested, and the sorting process separates the bulbs and the fingers of the raw haldi. This is done because they boil at different temperatures and require separate treatment. 
2. Cleaning: The sorted raw haldi is washed in a steel drum called a washer. It has a spiral mechanism that moves the haldi inside the drum and cleans it. The cleaned haldi exits from the other side, and the water is recycled and reused in the fields.
3. Boiling: The cleaned haldi is collected in a large cylindrical basket and lowered into a large boiler. The boiler operates at a pressure of 2 pa and the haldi is boiled for about 40 minutes. The boiler contains 6-8 inches of water at the bottom, which, when heated, produces steam that boils the haldi.
4. Drying: After boiling, the haldi is removed and dried under the open sun. This process can take up to 15 days, even during summer.
5. Polishing: The dried haldi is then polished in a machine called a polisher, which removes the outer skin and brings out its yellow color. If this step is skipped, the haldi may retain a black tinge, which can be unappealing to consumers.
6. Grinding: The polished haldi is then passed through a grinder, which grinds it into a fine powder. This is the final form.
7. Packaging: The powdered haldi is packaged and is ready to be sold in the market.

–Haldi Powder – The Value Addition

As can be seen from the above process, the conversion from raw haldi into finished powder is a long and evolved process that involves significant use of machinery and process-specific knowledge. While most farmers do not have the means to undertake this process, there is significant value addition at every stage, and the overall profitability of processed haldi is significantly higher than that of raw haldi (refer to the table below).

Since haldi is not part of the MSP crops, local traders buy it from processors and prefer to purchase polished haldi in bulk at Rs. 90-95 per kg. They, in turn, package it and sell it in the market at Rs. 180-200 per kg. Some of the top brands even fetch up to Rs. 300 per kg in the market. Hence, there is a huge margin being made by the traders and marketing companies at the expense of the farmer.

Challenges 

Although it may appear that growing and processing haldi is a profitable business for farmers and that more and more would take it up, in reality, farmers in Punjab are not undertaking haldi production due to the following challenges:

1. It takes approximately nine months for haldi to be grown and harvested. This process is quite long, and during this time, farmers could be earning profits from other crops, especially wheat and paddy, which the government purchases at MSP.
2. There is no minimum support price for haldi provided by the government, and hence farmers prefer crops where they have assured purchase.
3. Most farmers have limited marketing capabilities and would rather just grow the crop and sell it immediately to a direct customer.
4. Most farmers do not have the means and/or knowledge to invest in processing plants and machinery. 
5. Large traders have significant bargaining power in the market and therefore squeeze farmers.
6. Government schemes on crop diversification, such as haldi cultivation, have not been successfully implemented.

In conclusion, if crop diversification and processing are effectively pursued and marketed by the government through subsidies and regulated prices, I am sure haldi cultivation and processing would be a huge success in Punjab and would earn higher export dollars for the country.

Did you know that, just like industrial workers, farmers are exploited too? So, if workers are protected by the Minimum Wages Act, shouldn’t farmers have some sort of protection as well? This is exactly why the government has introduced the concept known as MSP (Minimum Support Price). Wondering what that is? Well, keep reading! 

MSP is a minimum price guarantee that acts as protection for farmers when they sell specific crops. These crops are purchased by the government at a promised price to create a central pool of food grains. This central pool is used to provide food grains under the Public Distribution System (PDS) and other welfare schemes, and is also maintained as a buffer stock in years of drought and similar situations.

Ironically, MSP protects farmers the most when they have a bumper crop. A bumper crop means that supply exceeds market demand, causing crop prices to fall and thereby lowering farmers’ income. This is when MSP comes into play, whereby the central government buys certain crops directly from farmers, at pre-determined prices (which are not based on demand-supply equilibrium). This is one of the biggest government interventions in the micro-economics of agriculture. 

Currently, 23 crops can be procured under the MSP system, with wheat and rice topping the list. This, however, is also its bane, as it discourages crop diversification. MSP incentivizes farmers to grow crops that are procured by the government. Since wheat and rice are the major food grains distributed under the Public Distribution System (PDS), procurement primarily focuses on these crops. This skews crop production in favour of wheat and paddy (particularly in states like Punjab, where procurement levels are high) and does not offer sufficient incentive for farmers to produce other crops such as pulses.  Further, this puts pressure on the water table, as these crops are water-intensive.

The other key problem with the MSP system is that it is not part of any legal framework, which means that what happens in real life is often very different from what gets reported. MSP is not mandatory for the purchase of food grains by private traders or companies. It acts only as a reference price at which the government and its agencies procure certain food grains from farmers. Many times, if market demand is weak, the government does not procure the crop even though an MSP exists for that crop. In such situations, farmers sell their produce to private traders at prices that are generally lower than the MSP, as traders have greater negotiating power. This has a negative bearing on farmers’ incomes. Hence, the MSP system is not properly implemented as it is intended to be.  

So, shouldn’t MSP be made legal, and shouldn’t farmers have more say in how its pricing is fixed, given that they are the ones doing the hard work? No wonder farmers feel helpless.

The National Commission on Farmers, chaired by Prof. M. S. Swaminathan, submitted five reports. These reports kept farmers’ interest in mind, focused on the causes of farmer distress and the increase in farmer suicides, and recommended a holistic national policy for farmers. Among other things, the reports mentioned that:

1. There is a need for improvement in the implementation of MSP. 
2. Arrangements should be made to extend MSP to crops other than paddy and wheat.
3. MSP should be at least 50% higher than the weighted average cost of production. 

However, the recommendations of these reports have never been implemented, despite farmers raising their voices for their implementation for years now. I sincerely hope the government acts soon to implement these recommendations so that farmers receive adequate returns for their hardships.

Think of India, and the first impression is often that of a large, overpopulated developing country marked by widespread poverty and a predominantly agrarian economy. However, if I told you that agriculture accounts for only 16% of India’s GDP, yet the country is food-surplus and among the top 10 food-grain exporters in the world, you would be taken by surprise, wouldn’t you? 

India’s agricultural sector has transformed dramatically since the post-independence era (1947–1960), when the nation faced severe food shortages and depended on subsidised grain imports from the United States—a period often referred to as the “ship-to-mouth” phase. In 2023–24, India achieved a record food-grain production of 332.22 million tonnes, driven by bumper rice and wheat harvests. Rice production reached 137.82 million tonnes, while wheat production stood at 113.29 million tonnes. Additionally, organic product exports surged by 34.6% in 2024–25, totalling USD 665.96 million, reflecting India’s growing presence in global agricultural trade.

Now consider that India had a rapidly growing population; without decisive action to become self‑sufficient, the problem of food shortages would only have worsened. Compounding this challenge was the country’s lack of modern irrigation systems and mechanisation, which further strained agricultural productivity. Imagine a nation historically known for its agrarian roots having millions of people in need of food—oh, the irony! 

To tackle this issue, the Government of India (GoI) ushered in several initiatives, such as high-yielding crop varieties, better fertilisers and pesticides, and improved irrigation systems, to increase overall agricultural production.

Let me paint a picture for you of how things were and how they improved over the years.

1. Newer seed varieties were introduced, along with improvements in production facilities, which helped increase agricultural output. For example, earlier rice cultivation used to take around 150 -180 days to mature. High yielding seeds helped reduce this duration to just 100 days. This enables farmers to increase the number of cropping cycles in a year and, thus, earn higher incomes.
2. Early irrigation systems consisted of wells, lakes, ponds, and canals. However, for farmers, these methods were often ineffective, as they consumed and wasted large amounts of water. Today, techniques, such as drip irrigation systems and sprinklers help use water more efficiently, minimising wastage.
3. Earlier, the agriculture sector relied heavily on manual labour and was largely labour-intensive. With improved technologies and mechanisation, farming has become more efficient, particularly in sowing and harvesting. For instance, the increased use of combine harvesters has reduced the need for manual labour while also speeding up agricultural processes.

‘

In addition to the above initiatives, the GoI also funded agricultural universities, which researched ways to improve farming techniques and develop innovative ideas to productivity. To encourage farmers to adopt these techniques, the government also provided subsidies.

In my opinion, the proactive role of the government has led to a substantial increase in food-grain production. As a result, a country that was once on the brink of famine is now considered the food bowl of the world. 

And that’s what I call moving to the elite league!

Punjab – The Shrinking Food Bowl

Ask anyone to describe Punjab, and they are likely to speak of vast, lush green fields stretching for miles, with farmers working diligently under a bright blue sky on farms dotted with tube wells and tractors. While there is some truth to this picture, a closer look reveals that things are not quite so rosy.

When India embarked on the Green Revolution in the 1960s, Punjab was at its forefront. Blessed with fertile alluvial soil, an abundance of rivers, and extensive irrigation canal network, large landholdings, and the entrepreneurial spirit of its farmers, Punjab led the way in making India self-sufficient in food-grain production. Not surprisingly, it came to be known as the “Food Bowl of India.” Although the state occupies only 1.5% of the country’s geographical area, it contributes roughly 38% of wheat and 31% of rice to the central pool for the Public Distribution System (PDS) and buffer stocking.

Once a model of agricultural development for other Indian states, Punjab’s agricultural sector is now in deep crisis. It faces a triple challenge of fast‑depleting groundwater resources, deteriorating soil health due to pollution, and a deceleration in yield growth.

1. Depleting Groundwater: The most critical challenge facing Punjab is the falling groundwater table, which has been declining at an annual rate of over one metre. Excessive cultivation of rice—despite it being unsuited to Punjab’s agro‑climatic conditions—requires large quantities of water. This has led to the rapid proliferation of tube wells across the state, resulting in the accelerated depletion of groundwater resources. As the area under rice cultivation has continued to expand, groundwater extraction has increased correspondingly to meet irrigation requirements. This trend has serious implications for both electricity consumption and long-term groundwater sustainability. According to government reports from 2024, the total demand for irrigation water in Punjab stood at 4.76 million hectare-metres (mhm), against an available supply of 3.48 mhm from combined groundwater and canal sources. This leaves a deficit of 1.28 mhm, which is being met through excessive groundwater extraction via tube wells.

-Sources of irrigation for Punjab (2023-2024)

2. Pollution and Deteriorating Soil Health: The intensification of the rice-wheat cropping system has led to the over-exploitation of groundwater, the imbalanced use of fertilisers, and the unabated burning of crop residues (mainly rice). These developments have adversely affected the sustainability of natural resources and the environment in Punjab. The state’s fertiliser consumption per hectare stands at 223.46 kg, compared to a national average of 90 kg. In recent years, a decline in productivity has been observed, largely due to the deterioration of soil fertility. Excessive and inappropriate use of fertilisers and pesticides polluted waterways and destroyed beneficial insects and wildlife, resulting in soil overuse and rapid nutrient depletion.
3. Declining Crop Yields: Over the years, owing to the assured Minimum Support Price (MSP) system and large-scale procurement of rice and wheat by the central government at pre-determined prices, Punjab’s farmers have become overly dependent on these two crops, which together account for over 90% of agricultural output. This dependence has come at the expense of diversification into other, higher-yielding and more sustainable crops such as pulses and maize. 

Farmers choose a crop portfolio that maximises their profits while reducing both production and market risks. Rice and wheat offer relatively higher returns and are associated with lower production as well as market risks. This has severely eroded farmers’ ability to maximise yields from their land; as a result, their only avenue for increasing income has been through an ever-rising MSP.

This has also been one of the biggest reasons behind the recent farm law protests in the country.

Conclusion

As Punjab grapples with the challenges facing its agricultural sector, there are no easy solutions, as the government realised during its attempt to introduce far reforms. Addressing these issues will require significant government investments, particularly in subsidies for crop diversification. It will also demand greater adoption of water-saving irrigation technologies by farmers, along with focused efforts in pollution control and soil preservation. There is also a pressing need for a market-driven yet remunerative pricing mechanism that enables greater participation of the private sector in procuring agricultural produce. Given the rapid progress made by Indian entrepreneurs across industries in recent years, I remain optimistic that agri-tech represents the next major revolution waiting to happen in this country.

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!