Yen Thanh farmers enter the season of processing turmeric starch

(Baonghean.vn) - These days, dozens of households in Lien Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district are rushing to produce and process turmeric starch to supply the market.

Coming to Yen Thanh from October this year to the end of February and March of the lunar calendar next year, along National Highway 7B, from Cau Thong to Lien Tri village, Lien Thanh commune, you can witness the bustling, busy and urgent working atmosphere of households engaged in processing and producing turmeric starch. Washing machines, grinding machines and even turmeric squeezing machines operate at full capacity.

Lien Thanh commune currently has over 20 households specializing in purchasing, wholesaling and retailing fresh turmeric, and producing and processing turmeric starch.

Mr. Pham Xuan Tuan - one of the households with over 5 years of experience in the production and processing of turmeric starch here affirmed: To produce turmeric starch products, it takes many steps, but this is an easy job, takes advantage of time, labor and brings in a significant source of income. Every day, the family makes about 3 quintals of fresh turmeric, the people in the turmeric growing area bring it to the place to buy at a price of about 800 - 1 million VND/quintal.

After going through the stages of washing, grinding, squeezing, soaking, drying, every 100 kg of fresh turmeric produces 4 - 5.5 kg of turmeric starch. The current market price ranges from 350 - 400 thousand VND/kg. Although it is a side job, processing turmeric starch has provided the main income for many families.

Many households invest tens of millions of dong to buy machinery for turmeric processing.

Before the production season, the households in Lien Thanh join together to survey and sign contracts to purchase raw materials from all over the province. By the time of harvest in early October, there are trucks to transport them to the site, each truck carrying about 10 - 12 tons of fresh turmeric.

Currently, turmeric starch is considered a medicinal herb for beauty and health care for people, so it is very popular in the market. There are two types of turmeric starch, one type is made from yellow turmeric, the starch has a smooth, beautiful yellow color. The type is made from black turmeric, which produces a white starch product, priced 30 - 50 thousand VND/kg lower than yellow turmeric starch.

Fresh turmeric after being processed, washed, ground and the shoots will give a refined product and then dried.

Ms. Dang Thi Hoai Phuong - a household doing the job said: Processing turmeric starch is not difficult, but it requires a lot of time. To get quality starch, we have to choose turmeric with a high amount of starch, the processing stage must also be very clean so that the product is of good quality and beautiful color. This job is very suitable for rural women, they can save time, work and take care of the family, and also have extra income, each day a worker earns about 200 - 300 thousand VND.

Although it is a spontaneous business, the products sold are mainly pre-ordered or marketed through social networking sites, but over the past year, the turmeric starch processing and production industry in Lien Thanh commune has continuously developed. Many households have invested from 30 to over 50 million VND to purchase and install machinery and equipment such as shell washing machines, grinding machines, extractors, starch drums, and dryers. There were times when supply could not meet demand, so households had to hire more workers to speed up production.

Before the production season, households in Lien Thanh buy and prepare raw materials.

Currently, the entire Lien Thanh commune has over 20 households specializing in purchasing, wholesaling and retailing fresh turmeric, producing and processing turmeric starch. Small households produce about 100 kg of fresh turmeric per day, large households produce 3-40 kg of fresh turmeric, creating jobs for hundreds of workers.

Mr. Tran Xuan Huong - Vice Chairman of Lien Thanh Commune People's Committee said: Households that invest in machinery earn from 7 to over 10 million VND/month. Working for 5-6 months a year also brings from 50 to 60 million VND or more. This is a profession that opens a new direction in shifting crop structure, increasing income, and creating jobs for local workers. Therefore, the Party Committee and People's Committee of the commune have a plan to create favorable conditions for households to borrow capital; convert some garden areas, grow high-yield rice to grow turmeric to proactively source raw materials. At the same time, urge households to both produce and ensure environmental sanitation, only then can they develop stably and sustainably./.

Anh Tuan - Phan Hien

(Yen Thanh Radio)