HYDERABAD, JULY 15, 2025: The National Turmeric Board (NTB), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, in collaboration with a-IDEA-NAARM, has organised a Stakeholders and Start-ups Consultation Meeting at NAARM, Hyderabad, on Tuesday.
Ms. N. Bhavani Sri, IAS, Secretary, National Turmeric Board, highlighted NTB’s long-term vision of fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and inclusivity across the turmeric sector in the country. She explained that the series of consultation sessions is being organised to develop a five-year strategic roadmap for the Board, shaped by grassroots insights from farmers, start-ups, researchers, and industry leaders. While the progression is on, NTB needs breathing time to cope with the aspirations and demands of the stakeholders and pave the way to develop this commodity, she added.
In his presidential address, Dr Gopal Lal, President, a-IDEA and Acting Director, ICAR-NAARM, urged participants to collaborate, ideate, and propose actionable solutions to strengthen the turmeric value chain besides preventing post-harvest losses. He underlined the immense value that entrepreneurs can gain by engaging with seasoned innovators and sectoral experts.
Dr S. Senthil Vinayagam, CEO, a-IDEA and Head, Education Systems Management Division at ICAR-NAARM, acknowledged the enthusiastic participation and reiterated the institution’s commitment to support innovative ideas and translating them into impactful outcomes. He proposed a vote of thanks.
The consultation convened 136 stakeholders in a hybrid format, bringing together a diverse group that included 20 startups and entrepreneurs; scientists and academicians; representatives from NIPHM, NIPER, IIPM, IIRR, and the National Turmeric Board; as well as officials from MSME, FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, and other industry associations. Also present were SHGs, NGOs, exporters, incubators and accelerators, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), financial institutions including SBI, PNB, UBI, NABKISAN, and Canara Bank; along with representatives from the Spices Board, APEDA, CSIR-CIMAP, and public policy organisations.
The interaction stressed on incorporating farmer feedback, enabling policy support, and providing incubation services to accelerate the adoption of innovations. The event marked a pivotal step towards creating a globally competitive, inclusive, and innovation-led turmeric sector in India. The stakeholders identified both emerging and overlooked opportunities across the turmeric value chain, from cultivation to consumer delivery. Key suggestions would be documented by NTB for setting up action roadmap. It was urged to NTB was urged to support the turmeric community by enhancing farmer income and improving value-added offerings for consumers. Deliberations also focused on curcumin content testing, smart processing techniques, product innovation, and digital platforms for traceability and scalability.
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