Goyal launches innovative weather-based crop insurance scheme
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has called upon the spice industry to double their exports to US$10 billion in the next five years, bringing forward the target by three years.
“We now aspire to meet our ambitious target for spices export – US$10 billion not by 2030, but maybe even faster; can we aspire to reach it in the next five years? I think we can! Let us aspire to double our exports to US$10 billion in the next five years, by 2027, and then further double our exports (by) US$10 billion in the next five years,” Goyal told the 35th anniversary function of the Spices Board, through video conference.
He expressed satisfaction over exports of spices, which increased by 115% in volume and 84% in value (USD) between 2014-21, reaching a historic high of US$4.2 billion in 2020-21.
“Now, Indian spices & spice products are reaching over 180 destinations all over the world,” he said.
Though India is a leader in global spice trade, the sector is facing challenges too, he noted.
“When it comes to export of spices in whole raw form, we do not currently enjoy cost advantage against many countries in the Asian and African regions, which means we should focus on increasing the export of value added spice products. Also, we face challenges in preparing our production system and manufacturing systems to meet the stringent quality and food safety standards,” said Goyal.
“The aim is to sustain the competitive edge of the Indian spice industry with added thrust on high-end value addition and new product development so as to cater to the specific requirements of varied consumers around the globe, while committed to ensuring food safety, quality and sustainability,” he elaborated.
The Government, he said, is keen to increase export of spices through resilient and efficient programmes and interventions.
The Board has initiated collaborative efforts with various national and international agencies on various projects and initiatives (1) with STDF of WTO and FAO for strengthening spice value chain in India and improving market access through capacity building and innovative interventions (2) with the Quality Council of India for INDGAP (Good Agricultural Practices) Certification; (3) with the spice industry and international agencies like IDH and GIZ, Germany, on National Sustainable Spice Programme, as well as (4) The UNDP’s Accelerator Lab, India on development of blockchain-enabled traceability platform for spices etc.
During the function, Goyal also launched the innovative weather-based crop insurance scheme, a joint initiative of the Spices Board and Agricultural Insurance Company of India for the benefit of cardamom farmers.
He also released the postal stamp to mark the Coral Jubilee of Spices Board.
Goyal said the Government has paved the way for the spice sector to grow and expand India’s footprint as a ‘Global Leader in Spices’.
“Export Development & Promotion of Spices scheme supports exporters to adopt high-tech processing. The Board has enabled access to primary processing and value addition in spices, through the eight spices parks set up in the major production centres across India (Puttady in Kerala, Sivaganga in TN, Guntur in AP, Chindhwara and Guna in MP, Kota and Jodhpur in Rajasthan) for the benefit of growers and entrepreneurs, thereby aiding in better price realization,” he said.
Goyal urged the Board to expand the reach of the quality testing laboratory network to all regions in India and adhere to the highest standards so as to make a name for quality and efficiency of service.
“The Board’s Quality Evaluation Laboratory network provides analytical services to exporters and other stakeholders across the major ports of India provide. Presently, state-of-the-art Labs are functioning under the Board from 8 locations (Kochi in Kerala, Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, Tuticorin and Chennai in TN, Mumbai in MH, Khandla in Gujarat, Narela near Delhi, and Kolkota in West Bengal),” he said.
“India pioneered the efforts which resulted in formation of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) under the Codex Alimentarius Commission of the FAO and WHO in 2014. This committee has been chaired by India and the Spices Board serves as its Secretariat. The CCSCH has successfully developed global quality standards for 8 spices—black/white/green pepper, cumin, thyme, garlic, cloves, oregano, basil and ginger.”
He noted the Spices Board’s many digital programs such as the cloud-based live e-auction facility for small cardamom to ensure transparency and Ease Of Doing Business.
“The Board has digitized most of its services and put them online. The Board has recently launched Spice Xchange India which is the first-of-its-kind online portal dedicated to trade in spices. It uses Artificial Intelligence tools to enable B2B matchmaking between spice exporters and importers across the world.
“The portal facilitates ease of doing business as it provides a technology-linked platform for connecting Indian exporters and global buyers and is a giant leap in strengthening export transactions of spices from India.”
Goyal called upon the spice industry to obtain GI tag for their distinct products.
Twenty-six Indian spices have received GI like Coorg Green Cardamom, Mizo Ginger, Kanniyakumari Cloves etc., we should capture more such possibilities for traditional Indian produce.
The Spice Board, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has been making proactive interventions, and has worked with all sections of this industry including stakeholders, spice growers, exporters, trade promotion and regulatory bodies of importing countries, inter-governmental organizations etc to promote Indian spices. fiinews.com
