Erode of Tamil Nadu is gradually emerging from the shadow of Coimbatore and Tirupur. The region is increasingly noted for its turmeric and textiles.
Erode’s $41 billion economy is expected to grow to $100 billion by 2030, according to local entrepreneurs and business houses.
This district’s politicians were foresighted and focused on the development of the area. According to C. Devarajan, general director of URC Construction and previous chairman of CII’s Erode chapter, the Lower Bhavani Canal Project, which irrigates more than two lakh acres, produces a lot of turmeric, sugarcane, rice, and banana, as well as groundnut and gingelly as dry crops.
While the region has become a cash crop centre, the large cattle population has resulted in the growth of food processing and dairy businesses, he noted.
SKM Egg Products, Sakthi Masala, Milky Mist, and Amirtha, as well as Sakthi Sugars and Bannari Amman Sugars, are all located in the district. It is home to almost 100 small and major construction firms that have earned a name for themselves on a state and national level.
Turmeric is Erode’s golden cash crop in the agricultural industry. “Up until 2011, when turmeric was sold for Rs. 17,000 per quintal, prices were on the rise. Farmers neglected to maintain a close watch on the cost of production while focusing on the sale price. Farmers were forced to sell their crops in desperation when prices fell to Rs. 3,500 per quintal the next year. Their problems were exacerbated by future monsoon failures, “Ulavan Producer Co. Ltd. chairman D Venkateswaran, aka CD Kumar, claims.
By optimising planting, maintenance, and post-harvest activities, his business is now assisting farmers in lowering their output costs. Ulavan has helped to increase the trader base, which was formerly controlled by only 40–50 traders. It cleans, grades, and packs turmeric before selling it in large quantities rather than the smaller quantities that formerly put individual farmers at the mercy of dealers. “We hope that the efforts we’re making will return the farmers to a prosperous road,” Venkateswaran added.
Erode is being developed not just by the private sector, but also by the state government. “Plans are in the works to fully use the Texvalley and Sipcot Perundhurai industrial estates. “We intend to establish Erode as a sports hub with an indoor stadium and other training facilities, in addition to solving the difficulties of turmeric farmers through a research facility,” says housing and urban development minister S Muthusamy.
This year’s topic for CII is “Innovate Erode.” Under that umbrella, we aim to focus on three basic themes—competitiveness, development, and sustainability—and work on them to improve all sectors, “says Pallava Textiles chairman Durai Palaniswamy.
According to S. D. Chandrasekar, secretary and correspondent for Vellalar Group of Institutions, agriculture, textiles, and education are the three primary areas that have defined the expansion of this district, which has numerous prestigious educational institutions.