Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2026: Erode turmeric farmers flag storage crisis

Storage infrastructure, fair pricing, income security and export support are among the key demands raised by turmeric traders and farmers in Erode, one of India’s largest turmeric hubs.

With Tamil Nadu heading into an election season, stakeholders say the lack of cold storage facilities is hurting both the quality of turmeric and farmers’ incomes.

Despite Erode’s reputation for producing high-quality turmeric, cold storage units remain scarce, forcing growers to rely on traditional dry warehouses. Farmers say this results in turmeric losing weight, colour and medicinal value over time, significantly reducing its market price.

Turmeric merchants argue that setting up cold storage facilities within Erode is crucial to protect produce quality and ensure better returns.

Ravi Shankar, President, Erode Turmeric Merchants & Warehouse Owners Association says, "Establishing a cold storage facility in Erode would be the best. We are still using traditional dry storage warehouses for storing turmeric. This reduces the quality of the turmeric and in turn farmers are not able to get a good price.."

While the state government has provided a cold storage facility in Gobichettipalayam, traders say its distance makes it impractical for Erode growers.

Meanwhile, Gugan, Vice President, Erode Turmeric Merchants and Warehouse Owners Association says, "Tamil Nadu government recently gave a cold storage facility in Gobichettipalayam for Erode turmeric but it is too far for us to transport all of this. Hence we need a place here. This has been our long-pending demand."

Farmers also complain that traders prefer operating from centralised market yards rather than travelling to smaller, scattered dry warehouses.

This forces growers to transport their produce over long distances, adding to their costs and cutting into already thin margins.

Raja, Farmer, Dharmapuri, "We think we need warehouse in every area but the dealers will not come there. We have to come here (centralised warehouse) – yes it involves transportation costs. We have warehouses in our area but dealers won't come there to buy.’’

Several turmeric growers are now demanding policy support similar to that given to crops such as paddy and sugarcane. They say mounting losses, labour shortages and low profitability are pushing farmers away from turmeric cultivation altogether.

Madhu, Farmer says: "Who is doing business in agriculture? It is the government who procure from us and sell. We come to you (govt) and look upon you for good sales. We are not able to make any profits, government should take measures to ensure we make profits – they should take action. There is also a huge lack of workforce. We are unable to handle the shortage."

Sivananda, Farmer, Sivagiri, "Production is falling. Hence, farmers and agricultural labourers are quitting this business and moving to crops like coconut and various other cultivations."

Traders at Erode’s turmeric market yard say infrastructure gaps remain despite the region’s importance to the national turmeric trade.

Their demands include higher capital subsidies from the Centre, electricity tariff concessions from the state government, improved facilities and greater transparency in auctioning.

M. Sathyamurthy, Secretary, Erode Turmeric Merchants Association, "Who is doing business in agriculture? It is the government who procure from us and sell. We come to you (govt) and look upon you for good sales. We are not able to make any profits, government should take measures to ensure we make profits – they should take action. There is also a huge lack of workforce. We are unable to handle the shortage."

As Tamil Nadu prepares for elections, turmeric farmers and traders in Erode say they hope the next government, irrespective of who comes to power — will prioritise the sector, strengthen infrastructure, and ensure sustainable livelihoods for those dependent on turmeric cultivation.