This Maharashtra farmer clocks Rs 21 lakh turnover from organic turmeric farming

After cultivating turmeric in Sangli, Maharashtra, for over twenty years, Vinod Todkar realised that yield was declining while the cost of fertilisers and other inputs was going up. To worsen things, the market rate of raw turmeric fluctuated widely, and income decreased.

“Climate change led to reduced sunlight and problems like fungal growth in the roots. The simultaneous rise in prices of NPK fertilisers (which contain Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) made turmeric farming unviable. That’s when I decided to find alternative ways of growing it,” Vinod tells 30Stades.

His search led him to organic farming, which relies on animal manure, compost, and biological pest control. The system focuses on improving soil fertility by using naturally available materials.

Also Read: This couple earns Rs 8 lakh per acre from organic turmeric farming; products reach Germany, USA

“The yield from one acre with chemical farming was around 20-25 quintals of turmeric per season. After shifting to organic farming, I now harvest 40 to 45 quintals. The output touched a high of 52 quintals per acre when I shifted to organic farming in 2020,” he says. 

Vinod grows turmeric over 1.5 acres of his own land and is a consultant to farms spread over nearly 500 acres in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa. “My consultation services are free for farmers, but I charge a fee from corporate farms,” says Vinod.

He converts organic raw turmeric into powder form and sells it under the Todkar Sanjeevani Haldi Turmeric Powder. Vinod sells it only in glass bottles of 200 g each to maintain purity.

He sold around 3 tonnes (3,000 kg) of organic turmeric powder last season at Rs 750 per kg, clocking a turnover of Rs 21 lakh from 1.5 acres.

After deducting expenses on farm inputs, labour, processing, packaging and other items, his profit was Rs 10 lakh. This translates to a turnover of Rs 14 lakh per acre and a profit of Rs 6.5 lakh per acre. 

Turmeric farming success strategy

The reason behind Vinod’s success is his own innovation, where farmers need to buy NPK Azotobacter, an organic biofertiliser, only once. “They can make further batches on their farm easily. This cuts costs, reduces dependence on the market and improves soil fertility, leading to very high yields,” he points out.

Also Read: Five reasons why organic farming is more profitable than chemical-based agriculture

NPK contains Azotobacter bacteria, which are nitrogen-fixing microbes that naturally enhance soil fertility and plant growth.

“We can buy NPK Azotobacter once and then multiply the bacteria on our own, like setting curd every time using a little culture,” he explains.

To one litre of NPK Azotobacter, farmers need to add 200 litres of water, 2kg of jaggery, half a kg of sugar, urad dal (half a bowl soaked overnight and ground), ground sprouts (half kg) and two eggs with shells (powdered). “The mixture can be left for four to five days, after which it is ready for use,” he points out.

“We add this to plants about 10 to 12 times during the nine-month duration of the crop. Turmeric rhizomes are sown in mid-May and are ready for harvest in January-February.

How organic turmeric farming is done

To prepare the land, Vinod adds chicken waste manure, jeevamrit, vermicompost and organic manure, which boost soil fertility. 

Then he makes furrows and plants turmeric rhizomes on both sides. This ridge and furrow method optimises water management and drainage, which is essential for preventing rhizome rot. 

“It is a common disease in turmeric and can be prevented by sowing rhizomes at seven to eight inches on both sides of the furrow,” he says. Vinod uses drip irrigation, which takes water and biofertilisers directly to the plant roots, minimising waste and cutting costs. “I give the Azotobacter preparation and other nutrients using drip,” he says.

To make the most of the land, he intercrops coriander with turmeric, which is a long-duration (nine months) crop. “Intercropping with coriander can fill the space between rows of turmeric, providing a harvest and income while the turmeric matures,” he adds.

Also Read: Couple finds super success with vermicompost; clocks Rs 6 lakh monthly turnover

The high yields and profits

The harvest from Vinod’s farm of 1.5 acres was around 60 quintal (6000 kg) in the last season.

“Processing farm produce is the only way for turmeric farmers to make a profit. Instead of selling low-priced, unprocessed turmeric to middlemen, farmers can create high-value products and access markets, including online and exports," he says. 

This transformation increases the net income for farmers by leveraging the product's medicinal, industrial, and culinary properties. “We take raw turmeric to Sangli, where they are ground into powder,” the agripreneur says.

Vinod has FSSAI and AGMARK certification for his organic turmeric. “We directly sell to customers in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa. In Pune, some NGOs buy directly from me for cancer patients. Some doctors also prescribe our organic turmeric to help patients build immunity and aid recovery from diseases,” he adds.

(Riya Singh is a Ranchi-based journalist who writes on environment, farming, sustainability, startups, & women empowerment)

Also Read: Five farmers earning lakhs from medicinal plant farming

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