The story
Sangli's turmeric trade grew because traders stored dried turmeric for years in underground pits in the black soil around Haripur, which keeps it safe from pests. Farmers from Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur and nearby Karnataka bring their crop to the Sangli market, where it is auctioned, polished, graded and sent across India and abroad. Sangli turmeric got a GI tag in 2018.
In numbers
The Turmeric Cluster, Sangli had 54 units (38 registered, 16 unregistered), a turnover of Rs 1,000 lakh and employment of 900; products: turmeric processing and turmeric powder.
Brief Industrial Profile of Sangli District, MSME-DI (Ministry of MSME) · 2012Sangli Turmeric is a registered GI (Application No. 496, Certificate No. 327 dated 07-11-2018); the applicant is Sangli Turmeric Cluster Pvt Ltd.
GI Registry (IP India) – Application No. 496, Sangli Turmeric · 2018
GI tag
- Sangli TurmericApplication no. GI Application No. 496, Certificate No. 327 (07-11-2018)GI Registry (IP India) – Application No. 496, Sangli Turmeric
Ways in for a newcomer
- Turmeric polishing, grading and steam-sterilised powder for exporters
- Branded GI-tagged turmeric powder for retail and online
- Curcumin extraction and value-added products
- Warehousing with proper fumigation and testing
Problems the cluster faces
- Price swings between seasons
- Adulteration and lead-chromate colouring scares
- Export rejections over pesticide residues
- Competition from Nizamabad and Erode markets
Businesses to start here
Turmeric Value-Added Products →Masala / Spice Grinding Unit →Cryogenic Spice Grinding →Organic Turmeric Paste Trading and Packing →