Market Study on Turmeric in Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Turmeric is referred to as the Golden Spice; it is grown and consumed world over including Nigeria. Turmeric has been identified as one agricultural commodity with awesome potentials to contribute to an economy. Turmeric is cultivated in 19 states including Plateau State. the cultivation of turmeric in Nigeria is defective, capricious and are of low quality as a result of which it discourages commercialization. While acknowledging the global market for spice, there is an abysmal development in the processing, packaging and marketing of Nigerian indigenous spices, this include turmeric. The basic issue necessitating this study is the low utilization of the opportunities prevalent in the turmeric market; this is as a result of the low understanding of the actors and forces and their operations, an understanding of this will ensure coordination in the market. The study discovered a customer and consumer based for turmeric. Farmers were identified as the key actors in the production of turmeric. The value-added activities here include, drying, grinding, pounding, packaging and preserving. Processors also exist in the market; output of processed turmeric includes forms as dried, powered, spices, curry, capsules, packaged in nylon. Two categories of turmeric are distributed viz: fresh and the processed turmeric. As with every other distribution channel, the value added activity involved is moving the commodity from the place of production to the final consumer. Supporting agencies exist, however, they do not have a specifically dedicated intervention to support turmeric market.