The Spices Board has achieved re-plantation and rejuvenation of pepper in about 8,000 hectares.

Speaking at the 118th Upasi (United Planters Association of Southern India) annual meet on commodity outlook for spices, Mr P. M. Suresh Kumar, Secretary, Spices Board, “So far about Rs 16.38 crore has been disbursed, and support for production improvement in States is continuing.”

Re-plantation and rejuvenation of pepper in Wayanad district, Kerala and the north-eastern region are on with a total outlay of Rs 100 crore. The Board has provided financial assistance of Rs 53.28 crore.

The development programme has been recommended by the Karnataka Horticulture Mission to the Agriculture Ministry. Approval is awaited.

The total outlay for the State is Rs 119.70 crore and is likely to cover 5,000 hectares.

A similar programme for Tamil Nadu is pending with the State horticulture department. The total outlay is Rs 13.84 crore, and is likely to cover 4,000 hectares.

Cardamom too

According to Mr Suresh Kumar, the Board is making similar efforts at re-plantation and rejuvenation of cardamom as well, to increase the output from 10,000 tonnes currently to 15,000 tonnes.

The total financial outlay of Rs 200 crore is planned for the scheme, with the Board's share being Rs 122 crore. So far we have done re-plantation in 8,800 hectares and rejuvenated 6,400 hectares, he added.

Market promotion

The Spices Board is also planning to help in market promotion. As a step towards this, a market study for enhancing the domestic consumption of cardamom by Bangalore-based Indian Institute of Plantation Management (IIPM) is planned.

The Board is also looking to air jingles through All India Radio in consuming centres.

Plantation welfare

The Board has introduced a personal accident insurance scheme (PAIS) for cardamom growers and workers through a price stabilisation fund trust (PSFT) operated by the Commerce Ministry.

Mr Kumar said the “premium for the grower/worker is Rs 22 a year, of which, 50 per cent will be met by the PSFT. Insurance coverage is for Rs 1 lakh.”

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