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Our Bureau

Jairam Ramesh calls for private participation

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Kochi Feb. 14 The Spices Board and Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up a Spice Park in Idukki district.

Speaking at a function held in Idukki, Mr Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Commerce, said that the park would be inaugurated in 12 month's time once the State Government provides the land for this purpose.

The Minister also stressed upon the importance of private participation and said without private investment, the Spice Park will never succeed. Spice Park is a value addition venture and it is most apt for a distress prone district like Idukki in spice sector, he added.

He also appealed to the State Government to make the best use of the re-plantation package of the Union Government, which could not be implemented without the help of the State.

Plantation Sector

According to the Minister, the package will be implemented under the 11th Five Year plan to replant and rejuvenate the plantation sector costing roughly Rs 3,000 crore. For pepper, he said the proposal is to replant 68,000 hectares of land by investing Rs 476 crore.

For cardamom, Rs 60 crore will be invested for replanting 5,000 hectares of land. For cashew Rs 60 crore would be invested in replanting 50,000 hectares. For rubber re-plantation Rs 450 crore would be used for 50,000 hectares.

Though coconut comes under the Agriculture Ministry, the Minister said that Rs 1,350 crore would be invested for coconut re-plantation in 3 lakh hectares of land. About 35,000 hectares of tea re-plantation is proposed for which Rs 350 crore will be invested. For coffee, 20,000 hectares would be replanted and Rs 160 crore is earmarked.

Besides, it was also decided to modernise 2 lakh coir looms and 100 cashew processing units costing Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 50 crore respectively.

Organic Farming

While stressing upon the re-plantation, he said that this project was given emphasis not because of the criticality of the plantation sector in export, as the contribution of the sector in total exports from the country is less than 3 per cent. But this sector is important from employment point of view and livelihood for the people. Hence the Government is committed to rejuvenate the sector, he added.

Mr V.J. Kurien, Chairman Spices Board, and Mr A.S. Suresh Babu, MD, Kinfra signed the MoU. Later addressing a press meet organised at the Indian Cardamom Research Institute, Myladumpara, the Union Minister stressed the need for adopting organic farming in the State if Kerala farmers want to get value for their agricultural produce.

"Our aim for the next five to six years should be to become major players in price determining of our commodities so that our farmers can get their due share," he added.

More Stories on : Spices & Condiments | Infrastructure | Kerala

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