To meet the specific needs of the electrical industry, the ICAR-Indian Species Research Institute (IISR) has developed a new variety of light turmeric for the masala industry.
Christianed as Iisr Surya, the new variety presents a light color rhizome for the electrical industry. It was developed after extensive research and the new variety is expected to benefit farmers, especially in the production of high quality turmeric dust.
Beenijnes Common yellowish turmeric, mass and energy industry favors lighter color varieties such as Mydukur and local Salem to meet their demands. However, these local cultivars are available only in limited quantities. As a result, light color turmeric is mixed with regular color to meet demand. This mixed turmeric dust lacks standardized characteristics, since its composition depends completely on the mixing process, said a press release.
Another prevailing problem in the market is that local cultivars currently produce very little, which makes the large -scale cultivation rate for farmers. Despite this, the demand for this special category of turmeric continues to increase, particularly in specialized markets such as Japan and several European countries. The new variety, developed by Icar-iisr, addresses this situation.
Higher performance
IISR Surya is a high duration and long duration variety (9 months) that sacrifices a performance of 20-30 percent compared to existing light varieties (Mydukur). In optimal conditions, this variety can produce up to 41 tons per hectare, while the average yield is around 29 tons per hectare. Iisr Surya is known for its pleasant aroma, which is expected to improve its popularity among the public.
The development of IISR Surya is the result of an investigation initiative of a decade led by the IISR team, including D Prasath, S Aarthi, NK Leela, S Mikesh Sankar and B Sasikumar.
IISR Surya has also been ruined by cultivation in Kerala, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand and Arunachal Pradesh by the Coordinated Research Project of All India on Spices (AICRP).
Posted on April 16, 2025