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Singh for concerted efforts to produce clean spices at competitive prices
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Wednesday, 28 January, 2015, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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fiogf49gjkf0d Concerted efforts are needed to produce clean spices at competitive prices in order to sustain India’s share in world market, according to Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh. The minister made this observation while inaugurating National Conference on Development and Export of Spices held here on Tuesday.
Singh stated, “Spices farmers have been facing the problem of low productivity, fluctuating prices coupled with biotic and abiotic stress resulting in low farm income. However, efforts of diversification, unfolding of nutraceutical and health benefit of spices and farming system models have provided better opportunity for improving income from spices.”
Singh pointed out that ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research Calicut and National Research Centre on Seed Spices Ajmer have pioneered in developing a number of high yielding varieties and production technologies.
The minister was of the opinion that Spices Board, under the ministry of commerce & industry, has been spearheading activities for excellence of Indian spices with respect to quality and hygiene.
He added that the Board functioned as an important link between the Indian exporters and the importers abroad and supported Indian spices brand building amongst the importing countries, which was really needed to realise the slogan of Brand India and Make in India.
Referring to India’s status in world spice trade, Singh stated that export earnings showed a spectacular growth during the period from 2005-06 to 2013-14 as the earning increased from US$592.9 million to US$2267.67 million. The volume of spices exported increased from 350,363 metric tonne in 2005-06 to 817,250 metric tonne in 2013-14.
According to Singh, spices have been playing an important role in the Indian agrarian economy as they account for 5% of the agriculture GDP (gross domestic product) of the country. The agro-climatic conditions in the country provide an ideal habitat for the natural growth of various spices. There is a long list of 75 spices grown in India but chillies, black pepper, ginger, turmeric, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, coriander, saffron and cumin are commercially more important.
Singh stated that today, India was the largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices in the world.
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