Boosting Cardamom Productivity and Spice Exports in India
The SPICED Scheme by Spices Board of India
The Spices Board of India has introduced an ambitious initiative to enhance the export of spices and spice products while improving the productivity of cardamom. This initiative, known as the "Sustainability in Spice Sector through Progressive, Innovative, and Collaborative Interventions for Export Development" (SPICED) scheme, aims to drive innovation and sustainability in the spice sector. The scheme will be implemented during the remainder of the 15th Finance Commission cycle until the fiscal year 2025-26. This comprehensive program is designed to boost the productivity and post-harvest quality of spices, making them more competitive in global markets.Overview of the SPICED Scheme
The SPICED scheme is a transformative step by the Spices Board of India to promote value addition and export development in the spice sector. The scheme introduces several new components, including "Mission Value Addition," "Mission Clean and Safe Spices," promotion of Geographical Indication (GI) spices, and support for entrepreneurship through Spice Incubation Centres. These components aim to enhance the overall quality and marketability of Indian spices in the global marketplace.Empowering Farmers and Enhancing Cardamom Productivity
One of the key objectives of the SPICED scheme is to empower farmers, especially those in key spice-growing regions. The program under the component "Improving the productivity of cardamom and post-harvest quality upgradation of spices" is specifically designed to support farmer groups, including Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Companies, and Self-Help Groups (SHGs). These groups will be given priority in receiving assistance for post-harvest improvements, which will help enhance the quality of spices and create a surplus suitable for export.
The scheme also places a strong emphasis on improving the productivity of both small and large cardamom. This will be achieved through various measures such as replanting efforts, the production of quality planting materials, the development of water sources, and the adoption of micro-irrigation systems. These efforts are aimed at increasing the yield of cardamom, thereby boosting the income of farmers and enhancing the overall productivity of the spice.
Strengthening Trade Promotion and Technological InterventionsTo further enhance spice sector value addition, the SPICED scheme introduces components that focus on market expansion, trade promotion, and technological interventions. These components offer support for technological and infrastructural improvements in spice processing and value addition. This includes setting up or upgrading in-house laboratories, product development, market development, and branding, as well as implementing food safety and quality assurance mechanisms.