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Author:Sri K. SRIRAMAN
p-ISSN:0024-9602, e-ISSN:2582-5321, Vol:44, Issue:sep-nov
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.A04183
Abstract
Turmeric (Curcuma longa L) is an important cash crop largely
grown in the districts of Coimbatore (4,000 acres) Tiruchirapalli (1500
acres) and Salem (900. acres) in Madras State. It is grown mostly as a
pure erop under canal or lift irrigation, in well manured, fertile and well
drained soils. The yield of processed and dried turmeric is about two
tons per acre. The yield of green rhizomes are about four time greater.
Both the finger ("virali") and round (Kizhangu') turmeric is used as seed
material, though there are different ideas about the final yield of the crop
in terms of fingers and rounds. Generally in the harvested crop the
proportion of bulbs to fingers is about 1:4 by weight.
The cost of
cultivation of turmeric is roughly about Rs. 1,200/- per acre. The produce
is harvested between January to March and is in the market after
processing from February onwards. It is mostly exported to Calcutta,
Bombay, Delhi, Colombo and other places outside the Madras State.
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