Turmeric procured for the Rehra Mahila Kisan Farmer Producer Company, based in Rehra village in Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur district, through the project. The procurement focused on healthy and well-developed rhizomes to ensure high-quality seeds. — **Turmeric procured** for the Rehra Mahila Kisan Farmer Producer Company, based in Rehra village in Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur district, through the project. The procurement focused on healthy and well-developed rhizomes to ensure high-quality seeds.

Vanthala Laxmi and her husband, from Porlubanda village in the Alluri Sitharama Raju district of Andhra Pradesh, harvesting turmeric from their demonstration plot. The project enabled the couple to improve their yield and crop quality. . — **Vanthala Laxmi** and her husband, from Porlubanda village in the Alluri Sitharama Raju district of Andhra Pradesh, harvesting turmeric from their demonstration plot. The project enabled the couple to improve their yield and crop quality.

Thüjosalü Chakhesang weaving at her home in Diezephe village in Nagalands’s Chümoukedima district — **A farmer** from Bheemasingi village in Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitharama Raju district with his harvested crop. Turmeric cultivation has been a way of life for farmers here for generations.

A field visit by an IISR-Tata Trusts team to a farmer’s field in Chitora village in Rajasthan’s Udaipur district. — **A field visit** by an IISR-Tata Trusts team to a farmer’s field in Chitora village in Rajasthan’s Udaipur district.

Docheri Imti, a resident of Phuvkiu village in the Kiphire district of Nagaland, grows the Pragati and Lakadong varieties of turmeric and the Mahima variety of ginger as part of the project. — **Docheri Imti**, a resident of Phuvkiu village in the Kiphire district of Nagaland, grows the Pragati and Lakadong varieties of turmeric and the Mahima variety of ginger as part of the project.

Members of the Siro Seuji producer group, a band of farmers from Soikota village In Assam’s Kamrup district, working their field ahead of cultivation. — **Members of** the Siro Seuji producer group, a band of farmers from Soikota village In Assam’s Kamrup district, working their field ahead of cultivation.

Rathva Janabhai, a farmer from Ghata village in Gujarat’s Tapi district, participated in the project and was able to improve his crop yield substantially. — **Rathva Janabhai**, a farmer from Ghata village in Gujarat’s Tapi district, participated in the project and was able to improve his crop yield substantially.

Women farmers from Zhimkiur village in Nagaland’s Kiphire district sowing the Pragati variety of turmeric. — **Women farmers** from Zhimkiur village in Nagaland’s Kiphire district sowing the Pragati variety of turmeric.

Farmers harvesting turmeric in Bheemasingi village in the Alluri Sitharama Raju district of Andhra Pradesh. The women farmers here play a vital role in turmeric cultivation, from sowing to harvesting. — **Farmers harvesting** turmeric in Bheemasingi village in the Alluri Sitharama Raju district of Andhra Pradesh. The women farmers here play a vital role in turmeric cultivation, from sowing to harvesting.

Bichilla Basumatary (foreground), a farmer from Gopalpur in Assam’s Kamrup district, planting seeds in her field. — **Bichilla Basumatary** (foreground), a farmer from Gopalpur in Assam’s Kamrup district, planting seeds in her field.

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SPICE RISE

Then as now, India remains on top of the charts when it comes to spices. The country is the world’s largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices, drawing on a rich heritage of cultivation, consumption and export.

Their production share may be small, but spices are a critical component of India’s agricultural landscape, generating high economic value and employment opportunities, particularly in rural reaches. The Tata Trusts and the Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kerala, have been collaborating on an ‘action research project’ to better understand these and other attributes and advantages of cultivating spices.

Launched in 2023, the project concentrates on improving the spices value chain in 10 Indian states: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Odisha. Agricultural practices, farmer collectives, seed production, processing units, branding and exports — the project covers it all.