DEVELOPMENT OF SPICES IN NORTH EASTERN STATES |
North Eastern States offer immense potential for
large-scale cultivation of spices. It is anticipated that the region can
create exportable surpluses at competitive prices so that the top slot
occupied by the country in the international spice market would be maintained.
It also gives large-scale employment opportunities and wealth creation
in the area. The major activities proposed are: |
Large Cardamom Development |
Large Cardamom presently grown in Sikkim and parts of West Bengal is being extended to the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland. To motivate the growers Spices Board proposes to provide Rs.17, 500/- per ha. as subsidy. |
Construction of Large Cardamom Curing Houses |
To provide forward linkage to expansion of large cardamom production, 15 community curing houses each with a capacity of 1000 kgs are proposed to be constructed during the last three years of the plan period. The entire cost will be borne by the Spices Board. |
Production of Organic Pepper |
Board proposes to support development of organic pepper in all the North Eastern States by offering 33% of the cost as subsidy with a ceiling of Rs.12, 500/- per ha. |
Development of Herbal Spices |
The climate in the North Eastern States is suitable for cultivation of herbal spices and Spices Board proposes to introduce these crops in North Eastern States by providing a subsidy of Rs.20, 000/- per ha. |
Setting up of Vermicompost Units |
In order to equip the growers in North Eastern States to produce organic inputs, Spices Board proposes to provide Rs.1250/- as grant-in-aid per unit. |
Organic Cultivation of Lakadong Turmeric |
Lakadong Turmeric is a much sought after variety by the extraction industry because of its high curcumin content (<5.5). It is a location specific variety grown in Meghalaya. Spices Board proposes to extend its organic cultivation in 1000 ha during the plan period by providing Rs.12,500/- per ha as subsidy. |
Organic Cultivation of Ginger |
Ginger is widely cultivated in North Eastern States. Organic cultivation of varieties like Nadia and China are proposed to be promoted for export market by providing Rs.12,500/- per ha as subsidy. |
Supply of Driers for drying Ginger and Turmeric |
To support ginger and turmeric growers to take up scientific drying of their produce for fetching better prices, Board proposes to provide Rs.10,000/- per drier as subsidy. |
Construction of Warehouse-cum-Cold Storages |
In order to insulate farmers from the adverse impacts of the price fluctuations, Spices Board proposes to set up 4 warehouse-cum-cold storages with a total capacity of 3000 tons during the plan period. The programme will be implemented with the assistance of the State Agricultural Market Committees/Agricultural Marketing Boards/Agro Industries Corporation / Agri-Horti Department/Farmers’ Groups. |
Training for Officers and Farmers in North Eastern States |
Board proposes to train officers of the Agricultural/Horticultural Departments in North Eastern States, and growers in various production, post harvest, quality management and export processing aspects. These programmes will be conducted also in training centers outside North East. |