The major handicaps for Indian spices in the global market are the high cost of production and the high level of myco-toxin and toxic chemical in the finished products, said Dr Arvind Kumar, Deputy Director-General (Education), ICAR, New Delhi.

Speaking at the ‘sixth symposium on spices and aromatic crops' at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Mr Kumar said, “In view of production costs and toxic chemical in spices, future trading is going to be tough in view of the stringent regulations imposed by various international organisations.”

In this regard, he stressed the need for a concerted effort to produce clean spices, increase productivity and reduce its cost of cultivation by adopting improved post-harvest technologies.

Dr Tamil Selven, Director, Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development, Kozhikode, released a souvenir on the occasion and delivered the keynote address, covering the problems and prospects for spice cultivation in the Deccan region. He also gave an account of the various Government schemes for the production of spices.

Dr M. Anandaraj, President, Indian Society of Spices & Director, Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode, spoke about the objectives of the symposium. On this occasion Dr V.S. Korikanthimath, former Director, ICAR Research Complex, Goa, was honoured with the ‘Sughandha Bharathi award' for his contribution to research on spices.

Dr R.R. Hanchinal, Vice-Chancellor, UAS, Dharwad, in his presidential remarks emphasised the role of Karnataka in spice production and export and the efforts of the University in improvement of spices, providing quality seeds and planting materials of various spices. Dr M.B. Chetti, Dean (Agri) welcomed the gathering and introduced the guests.

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