Indian Institute of Spices Research develops new turmeric variety
To meet the specific needs of the powdering industry, the ICAR – Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) has developed a new light-coloured turmeric variety for the masala industry.
Christened as IISR Surya, the new variety features a light-coloured rhizome for the powdering industry. It was developed after extensive research and the new variety is expected to significantly benefit farmers, especially in the production of high-quality turmeric powder.
Besides the common yellowish turmeric, the masala and powdering industry favours lighter-coloured varieties such as Mydukur and Salem Local to meet their demands. However, these local cultivars are available only in limited quantities. As a result, lighter-coloured turmeric is often mixed with regular-coloured turmeric to satisfy demand. This blended turmeric powder lacks any standardised characteristics, as its composition entirely depends on the mixing process, said a press release.
Another prevalent issue in the market is that the currently available local cultivars yield very little, making large-scale cultivation infeasible for farmers. Despite this, the demand for this special category of turmeric continues to rise — particularly in specialty markets such as Japan and several European countries. The new variety, developed by ICAR-IISR, addresses this situation.
Higher yield
IISR Surya is a high-yielding, long-duration variety (9 months) that offers a 20-30 per cent yield increase compared to existing light-coloured varieties (Mydukur). Under optimal conditions, this variety can yield up to 41 tonnes per hectare, while the average yield hovers around 29 tonnes per hectare. IISR Surya is known for its pleasant aroma, which is expected to enhance its popularity among the public.
The development of IISR Surya is the result of a decade-long research initiative led by the IISR team, including D Prasath, S Aarthi, NK Leela, S Mukesh Sankar and B Sasikumar.
IISR Surya has also been recommended for cultivation in Kerala, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand and Arunachal Pradesh by the All India Coordinated Research Project on Spices (AICRPS).
Published on April 16, 2025
