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Market study of pepper and turmeric, Wayanad
- Partner
- M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF)
- Where
- Wayanad, Kerala
- When
- 2024
- Kind of work
- Research and consultancy
A market study to help close to 200 tribal and marginal spice farmers earn more from their pepper and turmeric.
The question
Tribal and marginal farmers in Wayanad grow pepper and turmeric using organic and traditional methods, but sell it with little added value. MSSRF’s Community Agrobiodiversity Centre in Wayanad wanted to know where the demand is and how farmers could capture more of the price.
What we did
- Field visits to local markets and tourist hotspots, speaking with traders, wholesalers and exporters
- Conversations with farmers about production trends and the problems they face
- A consumer study on preferences for organic, traditionally grown spices, including whether traceability and farmers’ stories add value
- Value addition analysis of branding, packaging and marketing, looking for a system farmers can run themselves over the long term
What came of it
We submitted a detailed market study report to the Director of MSSRF Wayanad. It now guides MSSRF’s work on value addition for pepper and turmeric, which will benefit close to 200 marginal and tribal farmers in the district.
