Concerted efforts needed to produce clean spices at competitive prices: Agri Minister
Updated: Jan 27, 2015 03:01:40pm
New Delhi, Jan 27 (KNN) Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said that concerted efforts are needed to produce clean spices at competitive prices in order to sustain India’s share in the world market.
Inaugurating the National Conference on Development and Export of Spices here today, he said that spice 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, he added, as per an official release.
Referring to India’s status in world spice trade, Singh said that the export earnings showed a spectacular growth during the period from 2005-06 to 2013-14 as the earning increased from USD 592.9 million to USD 2267.67 million. Further, the volume of spices exported increased from 350,363 metric tons in 2005-06 to 817,250 metric tons in 2013-14.
Spices play an important role in the Indian agrarian economy as they account for 5 per cent of the agriculture GDP of the country. The agro-climatic conditions in the country provide an ideal habitat for the natural growth of various spices.
In addition, India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices in the world. Although as many as 75 spices are grown in the country, chillies, black pepper, ginger, turmeric, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, coriander, saffron and cumin are commercially more important.
The Minister said 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. Also, the Spices Board under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has been spearheading activities for excellence of Indian spices with respect to quality and hygiene of high level.
The Board functions as an important link between the Indian exporters and the importers abroad and supports the Indian spices brand building, amongst the importing countries. (KNN/ES)
Inaugurating the National Conference on Development and Export of Spices here today, he said that spice 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, he added, as per an official release.
Referring to India’s status in world spice trade, Singh said that the export earnings showed a spectacular growth during the period from 2005-06 to 2013-14 as the earning increased from USD 592.9 million to USD 2267.67 million. Further, the volume of spices exported increased from 350,363 metric tons in 2005-06 to 817,250 metric tons in 2013-14.
Spices play an important role in the Indian agrarian economy as they account for 5 per cent of the agriculture GDP of the country. The agro-climatic conditions in the country provide an ideal habitat for the natural growth of various spices.
In addition, India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices in the world. Although as many as 75 spices are grown in the country, chillies, black pepper, ginger, turmeric, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, coriander, saffron and cumin are commercially more important.
The Minister said 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. Also, the Spices Board under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has been spearheading activities for excellence of Indian spices with respect to quality and hygiene of high level.
The Board functions as an important link between the Indian exporters and the importers abroad and supports the Indian spices brand building, amongst the importing countries. (KNN/ES)
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