With global demand for turmeric continuing to grow, exports from Erode district have recorded a 5% increase this year compared to the previous year, driven largely by the crop’s medicinal value and rising consumption worldwide.
Known for its high curcumin content ranging between 2.5% and 3.9%, Erode turmeric has earned a Geographical Indication (GI) tag and remains one of the major crops cultivated in the district. The 10-month crop is sown during June-July and harvested in February-March. After processing, the produce is brought to regulated and agricultural producers’ cooperative markets in Erode, Perundurai, and Gobichettipalayam.
Next only to Nizamabad in Telangana, the Erode turmeric market is the second largest in the country. Turmeric from across the district, neighbouring districts, and a few other States is brought here for auction. The spice is exported to several countries, including Germany, Iran, Iraq, Morocco, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, the Netherlands, and Bangladesh.
Between April and November 2024, exports stood at 1.21 lakh metric tonnes, which rose to 1.27 lakh metric tonnes during the corresponding period this year.
M. Sathyamurthy, secretary of the Erode Turmeric Merchants and Godown Owners’ Association, told The Hindu that post-COVID-19, demand for turmeric has increased globally due to its medicinal properties and higher consumption. “Annual export growth has been in the range of 5% to 10% over the last few years,” he said.
Turmeric is cultivated on about 1.60 lakh acres across the State, with over 30% of the area located in Erode district. Of the nearly seven lakh bags of turmeric produced in the State, more than two lakh bags are contributed by the district.
Officials at the Department of Horticulture said the area under turmeric cultivation in Erode has shown an overall upward trend. The area under cultivation was 10,522 acres in 2020-21, 11,880 acres in 2021-22, 11,599 acres in 2022-23, 9,190 acres in 2023-24, 11,406 acres in 2024-25, and 11,860 acres in 2025-26.
Over the past 12 years, the average price of turmeric hovered between ₹5,000 and ₹6,000 per quintal, before surging to ₹24,000 per quintal in 2024. Prices later stabilised between ₹12,000 and ₹15,000 per quintal in recent years. The relatively stable pricing has encouraged farmers to expand the area under cultivation.
On Monday (December 29, 2025), turmeric prices at the Erode Regulated Market ranged from ₹8,586 to ₹15,629 per quintal for finger variety and ₹7,569 to ₹14,333 per quintal for bulb variety.