Turmeric farming has been an integral part of India's agricultural heritage for centuries, with over 30 distinct varieties cultivated across the country. Among these, one variety stands out for its dominance in Maharashtra: the Sangli’s Rajapuri Salem. This variety alone contributes to nearly 70% of the turmeric production in Maharashtra, often regarded as the finance capital of India. As climate conditions change and market demands evolve, farmers are continuously in search of turmeric varieties that offer higher yields, enhanced disease resistance, and better adaptability.
Sachin Kamlakar Karekar is a dedicated farmer and agricultural scientist who has made significant progress in addressing these evolving needs. Through years of meticulous selection and breeding, he developed the SK-4 variety—a breakthrough in turmeric cultivation. His journey began in 1998 when he identified turmeric plants exhibiting superior traits such as early maturity, robust growth, and larger rhizomes. After over a decade of careful refinement, the SK-4 variety has emerged as a favorite among farmers, providing improved yields and resilience in the face of changing environmental and market conditions.
What Makes SK-4 Special?
SK-4 is a notable variety because of its excellent yield potential and quality characteristics. It has been known to yield up to 50 tonnes per hectare of fresh rhizome under favorable conditions. It is much higher than most traditional types. This variety expressed a yield of 56 tonnes per hectare in experiments performed, which exceeded that of 28 other varieties. It can be comparable to the well-known Sona variety. This sona variety has a yield of 64 tonnes per hectare.
SK-4 has a high yield and is also valued for its large and beautiful reddish-yellow rhizomes. This trait is essential because good-quality rhizomes command higher prices in the market, which makes it possible for farmers to have more profit.
High Curcumin Content: A Key Advantage
Curcumin is the most valued content of turmeric for its medicinal qualities and commercial market demand. SK-4 contains 4% curcumin, which is a higher-than-premium Rajapuri Salem type. This variety has an average of 3.5% of curcumin. This gives SK-4 great potential to be used by farmers. Especially the farmers who are willing to produce turmeric that would be suitable for both domestic consumption and export markets.
As more people become aware of the health benefits of turmeric, the demand for high-curcumin types is growing. Farmers growing SK-4 have access to this demand and can earn better returns for their crop. This is how turmeric farming will become more profitable.
Adaptability to High-Rainfall Regions
SK-4 can perform well in areas with high rainfall and it is the special strength contained by this variety. It is hence ideally suited for the Konkan area and other regions with similar agro-climates. SK-4 has shown adequate resistance to the rhizome rot disease that is typical of wet conditions in contrast to some varieties that fail to perform well under excessive moisture.
The crop has also developed resistance to leaf spot disease. This characteristic minimizes the use of excessive chemical applications. This lowers production costs and promotes environmentally friendly farming practices, both of which are crucial in today's agricultural industry.
Market Potential and Future Prospects
India is the globe's largest producer, consumer, and exporter of turmeric. The average production of turmeric is approximately 11.61 lakh tonnes annually. The SK-4 variety can become an important crop to further increase India's export capabilities due to increasing demand for turmeric worldwide, particularly medicinal and organic types.
The potential of SK-4 is that high with the view of realization the National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF-India) has filed an application for its registration under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001. This action will also help in safeguarding intellectual property rights for the variety. It will also ensure that farmers receive fair rewards and recognition for their cultivation of the same.
A Boon for Farmers: Easy Cultivation and High Returns
SK-4 has another benefit, which is the enhanced cultivation method suggested by its inventor. The method is to cultivate the rhizomes in nursery bags prior to transplanting them to the field. This method has been discovered to provide a 90% success rate, which considerably minimizes the chances of crop failure. This technique provides robust, healthy plants that are better equipped to face environmental stresses compared to those planted directly in the field.
The higher quality of SK-4 rhizomes allows farmers to get better prices for their products in the market. The variety's high yield, along with its shorter crop duration of 160-170 days, enables farmers to produce and harvest turmeric effectively. This will ensure maximum use of land and overall profitability.
A Bright Future for SK-4
The development of SK-4 represents a major achievement in the cultivation of turmeric. It provides a golden opportunity for farmers to improve their productivity and returns. With its high output, improved quality of rhizomes, greater curcumin content, and disease resistance,
SK-4 can revolutionize turmeric farming in India, especially in areas of high rainfall. Turmeric farmers can have a future that is sustainable and profitable with the proper variety and adoption of better farming practices.
SK-4 will emerge as a top option for farmers with continued backing from agricultural bodies and government organizations that want to push their turmeric cultivation to new levels. Its transformation from a local variant to a common variety is proof of the efficacy of innovation and farmer-led research in Indian farming. The days of turmeric farming are brighter than ever before with SK-4.
