25 July

TURMERIC plants are being cultivated with irrigation water in the east regions of Kyaukse Township, Mandalay Region.

Turmeric is a plant that can be cultivated in hills and low lying lands. In Myanmar, turmeric plants are cultivated with irrigation water in April and May. An acre of turmeric plantings can produce between 50 and 60 baskets per acre and fresh turmeric branches can yield from 75 to 90 baskets per acre.

Turmeric crops are not difficult to grow, as the sesames need to spread over turmeric plantations. The plants start to emerge in July. The turmeric can be harvested when the leaves of the plant become yellow. The turmeric bulb can be kept for the next cultivation, and the branches of turmerics are boiled and dried for ten days, and sent to the market. An acre of turmeric can produce 1,000 viss (1viss=1.6kg), depending on the qualities.

The price of dried turmeric ranged from K2,000 per viss last year. Currently, dried turmeric brings in K1,800 per viss in Kyaukse Township, said Ko Toe Toe Aung, a turmeric grower.

Those regions can be cultivated with seasonal crops during any season using irrigation water. Moreover, paddy, sesame, chili, banana, betel and turmeric are mostly cultivated.—Than Zaw Min (IPRD) (Translated by La Wonn)