Potential for Black turmeric cultivation in Mizoram

Abstract

Black turmeric (Curcuma caesia Roxb.) is a well-known crop among the Mizo community due to its various medicinal uses by the locals. It is either hunt in the jungle or grown in a small kitchen garden without proper management for domestic uses. A large diversity of black turmeric also exists in the wild across Mizoram. The rhizome is used to cure several diseases. As a result of over-exploitation from their natural habitat, they are likely to become extinct in the near future. This crop is grown without following suitable agronomic procedures, which leads to poor production and productivity. So, considering the importance and values of the crop, scientific cultivation method for this crop needs to be standardized to meet the demands of this crop. This crop also has the potential to be traded commercially, thus, it offers financial security and livelihood improvement among the local people.