The turmeric produced by 250 families from Bojayá arrived at the Macfrut fair, one of the most important fruit and vegetable gatherings in the world and which this year took place in Rimini (Italy).
This species, along with other products such as mango from the Sierra Nevada, papaya from Bolívar, cape gooseberry, gulupa and blueberries from Boyacá were present at this fair, with the support of the Rural Development Agency.
“Turmeric was originally used by the natives as a tincture for their handicrafts; Later, with time, they discovered all the good things that it brought, because it fights various diseases and, in addition, it is used so that insects do not lacerate our skin in this tropical zone, not to mention that it is used to season and season food ”, told Edwin Allin, one of the promoters of this project.
Currently, 17 hectares are in production in corregimientos and villages along the Bojayá River, the result of the union of the Association of Victims of the Armed Conflict and Population in a Situation of Vulnerability, Asovivu, and the Association of Producers of San José (AsoproSanjosé).
In addition to the turmeric root for sale, they are producing flour and oil, which can be obtained from the large leaves of the plant and from the root.
Turmeric, called in some places ‘corn saffron’, is a plant with large leaves that grows easily in tropical regions, even among banana plantations. With its extracts, the food and textile industry creates deep orange dyes, frequently used in factories around the world. Its root, which can be chopped, grated or ground, is an increasingly common condiment in cooking and, as a main ingredient in curries, a staple of Indian cuisine.