Resource Efficient Turmeric Processing (RETP) technology
- Reduce processing time from 21 days to 2 days
- Engineered system assures hygienic and consistent quality processing
- Fully instrumented and supervised processing decision support for operator leading to operation by semi-skilled person (with basic training)
- Efficient resource utilization compared to conventional processing
India is the largest producer of turmeric in the world and amounts to more than 80 % of the world’s produce. It is also the largest exporter of turmeric in the world. The traditional practice of the turmeric process involves harvesting, washing, curing (steam cooking or boiling) and drying on the farm. The dried turmeric is supplied to market. In order to make turmeric powder, the plant level process for dried turmeric involved polishing, grinding, sieving and packaging
The traditional farm level process is labor and time-intensive operation (15-21 days). It is very difficult to maintain hygiene and consistent quality in the farm level processing. There are challenges to retaining curcumin in the traditional process due to long drying periods and curing at boiling temperature in farm level practice. We are using a novel process to combine the farm level and plant level practices under one roof and deliver turmeric powder in 2 days. The process involves washing, slicing, turmeric curing in vacuum and drying. The process plant is well designed to facilitate hygienic and resource efficient operation.