Spice Farmers & Exporters Should Help India Reach $5 Trillion Economy: Minister Som Parkash

As part of the efforts of the Central Government to reach $5 trillion economy and make India a global powerhouse by 2024-25, the spice farmers should double their production while exporters need to increase trade with other countries, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash said. 

The minister said this while inaugurating the function to present trophies and awards of Spices Board to exporters for their Excellence in Export of Spices and launch of New Projects for ensuring sustainable development of the Indian Spices Sector in Kochi.  

The minister said the income of the farmers should be doubled through increase in production so as to reach the target, which is also Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision. The exporters should help in protecting the interest of the farmers to compete in the world market with quality products from India."We are in discussion with all the stakeholders to achieve the goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy. The Union Government will extend all help to the farmers and exporters to reach the target and we have to work hard together to make the dream come true," Parkash said. 

The Minister also mentioned the need for the formation of Farmers clusters for all crops, as envisaged in the New Agriculture Export Policy (AEP), for integrating Indian farmers and agricultural products with the global value chains, which will help India to achieve the set goal for agriculture exports. 

India is one of the largest producers, exporters and consumers of spices globally. Every state in the country is producing spices and its value-added products which come to around nine million metric tons a year, he pointed out. 

India is producing around 180 spice products which are exported to 160 countries. Spices Board plays a major role in assisting cultivation of small & large cardamom and exports of Indian spices. The Board has conducted seven buyer-seller meets this year for facilitating direct linkage between farmers and exporters by avoiding the middlemen, the minister said. 

On this occasion, he gave away the 29th and 30th set of export awards to the spice exporters for their “commendable performance” during 2015-16 and 2016-17.  

On the sidelines of the award function, the Plant Protection Code (PPC) for small and large cardamom, which has been developed by the Indian Cardamom Research Institute to achieve sustainability in cardamom production, was launched. The minister also launched online sales of Spices under the brand ‘Flavourit’, which is promoted by Flavourit Spices Trading Limited (FSTL), an initiative of Spices Board to help farmer groups to sale high-quality spices in retail market. 

The other projects which were launched during the function includes   ‘Strengthening the Spice Value Chain in India & Improving the Market Access through Capacity Building and Innovative Interventions’ a collaborative project with Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) of WTO   and National Sustainable Spice Programme (NSSP) - an initiative jointly by Spices Board, the World Spice Organisation (WSO), IDH - The Sustainable Trade Initiative, and GIZ, Germany with the objective of Focusing on Food Safety & Sustainability of spices. 

Besides, awards were given to 19 top exporters in the following categories: pepper, cardamom (small), cardamom (large), chilly, ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, nutmeg & mace, spices mixes/ curry powder, spice oils & oleoresins, mint & mint products, spices in branded consumer packs, organic spices, topmost exporter of spices from Northeast Region, topmost exporter of spices among women entrepreneurs and topmost exporter of spices/spice products among new entrepreneurs. 

The Minister also distributed Certificates of Merit to exporters for remarkable growth in exports over the previous year. 

The function also witnessed the curtain raiser of the 14th edition of World Spice Congress which will be conducted later this year at Navi Mumbai (CIDCO Convention Centre), under the partnership of Spices Board, Spice exporters associations and other stakeholders of spice fraternity. The three-day event is slated to begin on November 7.