Mr. Madhav D. Gholkar will present his APS as per the details:
Date: Tuesday, 30th September 2025
Time: 1800 - 1900 hrs.
Venue: C-TARA Conference Room No. 1
Topic: Integrated Assessment of Resource Use and Environmental Performance for Sustainable Turmeric Cultivation in Maharashtra
Supervisor: Prof. Parmeshwar D. Udmale
RPC Members: Prof. Bakul Rao, Prof. Aditi Chaubal, Dr. Nitin Kumbhar (External)
Abstract:
Maharashtra ranks 1st in turmeric cultivation with about 25% of the total turmeric area in India, of which about 50% turmeric area is in Hingoli district. Being a high-value crop with lucrative market prices, turmeric farmers tend to use multiple inputs to manage various biotic and abiotic production risks and achieve higher yields. However, this often results in inefficient input resource utilization and imbalanced energy input–output relationships, while also causing significant environmental impacts due to unsustainable practices. Unlike economic analysis, which is influenced by fluctuating market prices for commodities, energy and carbon assessments provide an unbiased view. Thus, the study aimed at evaluating energy and carbon footprints of turmeric production in Hingoli district to identify opportunities for resource optimization, enhance energy and carbon efficiency and lead towards more sustainable turmeric production.
Primary data are being collected using semi structured questionnaire from Turmeric growers of 10 villages of Hingoli district. A detailed inventory of cultivation practices and input use is being collected in three phases from 200 farmers, covering 5 villages each in the Aundha and Vasmat blocks of Hingoli district. Integrated life cycle assessment and data envelopment analysis approach is used to assess the operational efficiency and environmental impacts of the turmeric production systems. The integrated approach is expected to identify hotspots, synergies and trade-offs between carbon footprint, energy requirements, and water demand and thereby facilitating the optimization of the resource use and reducing environmental impacts in turmeric farming.