The Hindu Business Line : Spices Board to focus more on N-E, UP, Rajasthan

Kochi June 1 The Centre plans to give more thrust towards cultivation of spices such as mint, chilli, cumin, coriander, fennel and saffron in order to give due recognition to States contributing to exports of these products.

These commodities had been neglected so far , though their contributions to the total export earnings were at around 53 per cent, Mr Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Commerce, said.

Enhancing Cultivation

Among these spices, the share of mint is 30 per cent and 80 per cent of it is cultivated in Uttar Pradesh, he said. In view of this, the Government is drawing up a plan to enhance the cultivation and production of these spices, apart from improving quality, he said.

The focus of the Spices Board would be increasingly towards North-East, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, he said.

The Minister said all the paper formalities on the proposed spices park in Kerala's Idukki district had been completed. About 100 acres of land in Nedumkandam in the district has been identified for a pre-processing centre while another 100 acres in Thodupuzha taluk for value addition units.

Land Acquisition

The two parks would be developed as a joint venture between the Kinfra and the spices board at a total cost of Rs 20 crore, which would be equally shared by both. The District Collector will start land acquisition at both the places soon, he said.

All the investors in the park would be from private sector. Already three companies have come forward to set up units in the park, he said.

In order to increase production and productivity, pepper in 50,000 hectares and cardamom in 25,000 ha would be replanted with Central assistance and it is expected to begin by October 2007, he said.

Mr Ramesh said that e-auction for cardamom would be launched in Bodinayakannur on July 16. TCS, which has already designed the system, would be operating it.