Gujarat Farmers Add Value to Turmeric Through Natural Farming

Oct 16, 2026

Farmers in Gujarat are adopting natural farming to reduce costs and improve soil health. In Vadod village of Surendranagar district, 70-year-old Kalubhai Patel has practised cow-based natural farming for nearly 13 years. Along with his son, he grows turmeric on four acres using only natural inputs. Patel adds value to his produce by processing turmeric into powder and pickles for direct sale. His home-based processing unit, equipped with a steam boiler, polishing machine and pulveriser, cost around Rs 5 lakh, with the Horticulture Department providing a subsidy of Rs 2.5 lakh. Patel has also received Best Farmer Awards at taluka, district and state levels, including honours from agricultural universities. His son says word-of-mouth and government support have helped them market their produce. A study by Gujarat’s Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University found that the highest-yielding natural farming treatment produced 40.66 tonnes of fresh turmeric per hectare, compared with 19.3 tonnes under conventional farming. Government support for processing and market access is helping farmers in Gujarat add value to their produce and strengthen self-reliance.