India target US$3bn in spice exports by 2017
The Indian government has set a spice export turnover target of US$3bn under the 12th five-year plan that spans from 2012 to 2017, said M R Sudharshan, director of marketing at the Spices Board of India.
Sudharshan made the comments at an event in New Delhi on June 7.
India currently dominates the global spice trade with a near-half share - exporting almost 3.2 million tonnes of various spices, according to data from the board.
Even with this pedigree the target is ambitious for a sector that exported spices and spice products valued at US$1,500m in the 2010-11 fiscal year.
Sudharshan said India would need to expand its export basket by introducing more value-added products to achieve its targets.
On the question of increasing exports, Sanjeev Chopra, director of the National Horticulture Mission said producers and exporters would need to pay heed to global safety standards to achieve export potential.
Also of importance would be the use of new technology and practices to increase spice production and output post-harvest as well, Chopra said, noting the government has started programmes to support this shift.
Chopra added that a move has been made towards a quasi-cooperative model where the government has facilitated the creation of farmer groups, who can move to, “trade directly with companies, remove middlemen from the trade, and increase their profits.”
“The government has introduced the Public Private Partnership model to strengthen backward integration to increase post-harvest management and processing facilities.”
