TURMERIC
KUAN-DON DISTRICT, SATUN
Our Turmeric Cluster Farm Group is from Kuan-Don District of Satun province, Thailand. Turmeric was recently added to be our sixth target crop in December, 2024. Thus, the activities for turmeric will begin from 2025 onwards. This group consists of two sub-groups: Turmeric Production and Turmeric Processing Group. The production group has challenges with planting bags' quality and proper planting materials to maximize the production efficiency for medical purpose. The processing group already has drying facility and some processing machines but turmeric slicer and processing standard workshop are necessary to improve processing quality.
Demonstrations
1. Reusable Planting Bags (Production Group)
Introduction of the New Planting Bags
During the first visit, we saw that farmers here mostly plant turmeric in the bags because most members are elderly women and bags are convenient to manage.
Normally, farmers use fertilizer bags or other bags available in the area for turmeric production. These bags are easier to find but they have low durability, water retention quality and airflow.
Our experts in the project scouted for better bags and found proper bags that are durable with good water retention and aeration. The production group began testing the new bags since mid-2025 crop cycle.
2. Planting Materials Trial with 3 Formulas (Production Group)
Farmers use their traditional planting formula that sometimes it causes disease outbreak and yield loss. To prevent this, we set up a trial for 3 different formulas for turmeric production materials to maximize the yield quality for medical purpose use. The three formulas consist of:
1. Farmers' traditional formula
2. The Department of Agriculture (DOA)'s formula
3. DOA's formula + Biochar
The first trial was set up in mid 2025 with the results supposed to show at the end of the year. Unfortunately, there was heavy flood in Southern Thailand including Satun province that washed away most of the trial bags as well as normal turmeric production bags. As a result, the re-trial was set up again in mid 2026 for the results to come in early 2027.
Photo credit: Mr. Pu, Turmeric Farmer
3. Turmeric Slicer for Better Grades (Processing Group)
Formerly, our Turmeric Processing Group dried the whole turmeric rhizomes without slicing, resulting in longer drying time, yield loss and uneven dryness level. Turmeric that was sold in the whole chunk with varied dryness level was not earn a good money.
In order to improve the quality and earn a better price, the group saw the necessity of having a slicer. With the new slicer, our members are able to slice turmeric into smaller pieces before putting them to dry. It reduces time in drying, make certainty in drying level which then result in less yield loss and more increase income.
4. Turmeric Processing Standard Workshop (Processing Group)
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Satun Field Day
6 May 2026
Mr.Pu and his group were presenting the process of how to convert resides and woods to biochar and used it to mix with planting materials for turmeric production.
Satun Field Day
6 May 2026
Presentation of planting materials for different formulas that are being tested in the current production.
Satun Field Day
6 May 2026
Presentation of various processed products from medical grade turmeric including dried turmeric and herbal balls.