The programmes and activity components under the scheme are for improving productivity and quality of cardamom and post harvest improvement of spices at farm level, encouraging organic production of spices, creation of replicable models based on integrated pest management, development of spices with export potential in North Eastern Region, extension advisory service to spice growers etc.

The programme aims at developing perennial water resources in cardamom plantations by constructing water storage devices like farm ponds and wells. Irrigation is provided by installation of irrigation equipments like small irrigation pump sets, sprinkler sets and gravity irrigation equipments. Soil & water conservation methods are also supported.
In Kerala and Tamilnadu the programme is implemented by Spices Board utilizing it’s own fund, whereas in Karnataka implementation is with the partial financial assistance of WGDP Karnataka.

Eligibility : Registered cardamom growers having holding upto 8 ha.
Subsidy  : Ranges from 25 to 50% based on activity component and size of holding.

State-wise and activity-wise details are given below:

Irrigation during summer months is very much essential in cardamom plantations for getting higher yields. A cheap method of harvesting rainwater for irrigation purpose in the cardamom plantations is using excavated storage tanks lined with UV resistant polythene tarpaulin also called ‘Silpauline’. This method of harvesting rainwater for irrigation purpose is being used by the cardamom growers because of its low cost and convenience. Spices Board is popularizing this method for irrigating cardamom plantations in the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Eligibility: Registered cardamom growers having holding upto 8 ha.

Subsidy : 33.33% of the actual cost or Rs.8000/- whichever is less per 200 cu. Mt. capacity device (Estimated cost Rs.24000/- Rs.16000/- for excavation work and Rs.8000/- for silpauline sheets).

Cardamom is dried in traditional curing houses using firewood as fuel. Sun drying is not popular due to the loss of green colour during the process.

As the productivity / production is registering an upward trend year after year, the firewood requirement is also increasing. As the wind fallen trees are not enough to meet the growing demand of firewood, the growers are forced to seek other sources of fuel. Moreover, wood is required for the construction of new curing houses especially for racks to spread cardamom and to provide false ceiling in the curing houses to preserve the heat.

A few innovative growers have installed cardamom curing systems using alternate fuels, viz. Diesel, LP Gas and energy from biomass which gives their produce better colour and cost effective drying. These driers are cardamom can be put in to the drying chamber of these new curing systems after washing instead of spreading it on the trays as is practiced in the conventional drying. The drying time is reduced from 28-36 hrs to about 20 hours in these driers.
The objective of the programme is to popularise improved cardamom curing devices , using LPG/Diesel/Bio-mass and firewood as alternate source of fuel, among the small growers of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Eligibility: Registered cardamom growers having holding upto 8 ha.

Subsidy : 33.33% of the actual cost subject to a maximum of Rs.60000/- per device.

Purchase of the device has to be from any of the manufacturers approved by Spices Board.

Large cardamom growers traditionally cure their cardamom in the locally fabricated bhattis. This does not ensure proper drying and ideal colour in the cured cardamom. Board had introduced and evaluated a number of curing methods using different fuels and has selected modified system, which gives good quality. In order to popularize this method, Board is providing subsidy for construction of such modified bhattis.

Eligibility: Large cardamom growers having area upto 4 ha.

Subsidy: Rs.5000/- for 200 kg capacity and Rs.9000/- for 400 kg capacity bhattis towards 33.33% and 36% of the cost whichever is less respectively.

The Board propose to implement the programme of rain water harvesting in the state of Sikkim and Darjeeling district of West Bengal for providing irrigation to large cardamom plantations in summer months as done in the case of small cardamom plantations of South India.

Eligibility: Large cardamom growers having holding upto 8 ha.

Subsidy : 33.33% of the actual cost or Rs.8000/- whichever is less per 200 cu. Mt. capacity device (Estimated cost Rs.24000/- Rs.16000/- for excavation work and Rs.8000/- for silpauline sheets).

Chilli, ginger and turmeric are extensively cultivated in the North Eastern States. Some of the varieties in that area viz., ‘China’, ’Nadia’, and ‘Thingpur’ in ginger, `Lakadong’ in turmeric and birds eye in chilli are considered rich in oil, curcumin content and capsaicin content respectively. The agro–climatic conditions prevailing in NE States are suitable for the cultivation of pepper and large cardamom and these crops can be profitably grown in these regions to create exportable surplus. There is great scope in promoting production of organic spices in these states by popularizing organic farming practices among the growers so that sufficient quantity of organic spices can be made available for exports.

Hence the following programmes are implemented:

Large cardamom cultivation is presently concentrated in Sikkim and North West Bengal. The agro-climatic conditions prevailing in other NE states are suitable for cultivation of large cardamom. The programme envisages to extend large cardamom cultivation to these areas by providing financial assistance by way of subsidy. Production of disease free healthy planting material through certified nurseries is also an activity component of the programme.

Eligibility: Growers having holding upto 8 ha.

Subsidy : Rs. 17500/- ha. towards 62.5% of the cost of planting material and maintenance during gestation period disbursable in two annual instalments of Rs.15000/- and Rs.2500/- respectively.

The Board has started implementing the programme of rain water harvesting in the state of Sikkim and Darjeeling district of West Bengal for providing irrigation to large cardamom plantations in summer months as done in the case of small cardamom plantations of South India which is proposed to be replicated in other North Eastern States also.

Eligibility: Large cardamom growers having holding upto 8 ha.

Subsidy : 33.33% of the actual cost or Rs.8000/- whichever is less per 200 cu. Mt. capacity device (Estimated cost Rs.24000/- Rs.16000/- for excavation work and Rs.8000/- for silpauline sheets).

Large cardamom growers traditionally cure their cardamom in the locally fabricated bhattis. This does not ensure proper drying and ideal colour in the cured cardamom. Board had introduced and evaluated a number of curing methods using different fuels in the State of Sikkim and has selected a modified system which gives good quality. Spices Board propose to popularize this method in other North Eastern States also.

Eligibility: Large cardamom growers having area upto 4 ha.

Subsidy: Rs.5000/- for 200 kg capacity and Rs.9000/- for 400 kg capacity bhattis towards 33.33% and 36% of the cost whichever is less respectively.

This programme is mainly implemented in the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh Manipur and Meghalaya. Organic inputs required will be multiplied with the assistance of Non Governmental agencies and supplied to the growers. The required planting materials will be produced and supplied through rapid multiplication units raised by Governmental/Non-Governmental agencies under the technical guidance from Spices Board. Organic certification will be facilitated by the Board.

Eligibility : Growers having area upto 8 ha.

Subsidy : 33 % of the cost subject to a maximum of Rs.15000/- per hectare in two annual installments of Rs.13000/- and Rs.2000/-

Lakadong turmeric is having high curcumin content (5.5%) and hence suitable for extraction of colour. This variety is highly location specific and is very much preferred by the exporters for extraction of the colour. Hence organic production of Lakadong turmeric in Meghalaya and other North Eastern states is supported. Availability of quality planting materials is a major limiting factor in its production. This programme is implemented with the assistance of Government/Non-Governmental agencies wherever required.

Eligibility : Growers having area upto 8 ha.

Subsidy : Rs.12500/- per hectare is provided as subsidy towards 50% of the cost of planting material.

Ginger varieties like Nadia and China are having higher oil content and hence suitable for exports. Organic production of these varieties in NE states is proposed to be promoted. The programme will be implemented with the assistance of Governmental/Non– Governmental agencies wherever required.

Eligibility : Growers having area upto 8 ha.

Subsidy : Rs.12500/- per hectare is provided as subsidy towards 50% of the cost of planting material.

Board arranges training programmes for the officers of the state Agriculture/Horticulture departments and selected growers of North Eastern states on the recent advances in spices cultivation, harvest and post harvest operations in elite plantations; research stations like IISR, ICRI, KAU; NGOs, spice processing units of South India and Quality Evaluation Laboratory of Spices Board. Training of officers will be conducted in alternate years.

Entire expense for travel and stay, DA of the trainees, local transport etc. will be met by Spices Board.

The harvesting and post harvest practices followed in seed spices are unhygienic which may results in contamination of the products with foreign matters like stalks, dirt, sand, stem bits etc. In order to educate the farmers and to avoid contamination in the final product Board proposes to introduce use of manual as well as power operated threshers for separating the seeds from the dried plants.
Eligibility : Seed spice growers having area upto 8 ha.

(Large growers and NGOs are eligible for purchase of power operated threshers and small and marginal growers are eligible for purchasing manually operated threshers).

Subsidy : 50% of the costs subject to a maximum of Rs.50,000/- for a power operated thresher and Rs.15,000/- for a manually operated thresher.

The objective of the programme is to assist the pepper growers to acquire threshers to separate pepper berries from spikes under hygienic condition.

Eligibility : Pepper growers having area upto 8 ha.

Subsidy : Rs.7000/- per thresher irrespective of the capacity of the equipment.

The programme is intended to encourage small and marginal growers of pepper to dry pepper on clean and hygienic surface. Hence bamboo mats supplied at subsidized rates. Bamboomats coated with paper-fenugreek paste will provide a clean and durable surface for drying pepper.

Eligibility : Pepper growers having 51 to 100 nos. of yielding vines are eligible for one mat and more than 101 vines are eligible for two mats onece in three years.

Subsidy : 90% of the cost to tribal growers and 50% of the cost to general category growers.

Board will arrange centralized purchase and supply of mats to eligible growers.

Consignments of Indian chilli were detained in the recent past due to reported presence of pesticides. The presence of pesticides has caused serious trade disruptions. Therefore, it is necessary to popularise integrated pest management in chilli for educating farmers on safe and judicious use of pesticides and chemicals. The programme is implemented in the slected villages of Guntur , Prakasam and Khammam districts of Andhra Pradesh. Subsidised supply of IPM kits containing pheromone traps, bio agents like trichoderma, trichogramma, neem pesticides, worms for producing vermicompost etc. is taken up under the programme.

Eligibility : Chilly growers having area upto 8ha. in selected districts of Andhra Pradesh.

Subsidy : Rs. 1500/- ha. towards 50% of the cost of IPM Kit.

Spices board will arrange centralized purchase and distribution of of IPM Kits.

Fresh turmeric is cured for obtaining dry turmeric. Curing involves boiling of fresh rhizomes in water and drying in the sun. Over cooking spoils the colour of the final product while undercooking makes the dried product brittle. In conventional curing where the rhizomes are boiled in copper or galvanised iron or earthen vessels there are chances for overcooking or undercooking.

Improved scientific cooking involves using boilers and perforated trough made of GI or MS sheet extended with parallel handle. This ensures optimum cooking of turmeric, which provides better colour and quality to the final produce. Hence it is proposed to popularise the use of turmeric boilers among turmeric growers for production of quality turmeric suitable for exports.

Eligibility : Turmeric growers having area upto 8ha.

Subsidy : 50% of the cost of the boiler or Rs.4000/- per boiler whichever is less.

Dried turmeric has a poor appearance and rough dull colour outside the surface with scales and root bits. The appearance is improved by smoothening and polishing the outer surface by manual or mechanical rubbing. Manual polishing is by rubbing the dried turmeric fingers on a hard surface or trampling them by wrapping in gunny bags. Manual polishing may affect quality of the product.

The improved method of polishing turmeric is by using hand operated / power operated polishers. This ensures hygienic and effective polishing which gives better appearance to the product. Hence it is proposed to popularise the practice of using improved polishers for polishing turmeric by subsidized supply of turmeric polishers.

Eligibility : Turmeric growers having area upto 8ha.

Subsidy : 50% of the cost of the polisher or Rs.16000/- per polisher whichever is less.

Distillation of mint oil is usually done as an on-farm process. At present majority of the farmers are using field distillation units made out of MS sheet with a capacity of 500 - 600 kg. herbage per batch. The life of these units is around 5 years. These units are poor in fuel efficiency, take long time for distillation and give low recovery of oil with poor quality. Hence there is a need to popularise efficient and improved stainless steel/stainless steel lined field distillation units. The capacity of such an improved unit ranges from 2000 - 6000 litres. Hence it is proposed to provide financial assistance for installing such improved distillers in farmers field.

Eligibility : Mint growers having area upto 8 ha.

Subsidy : Rs. 1.30 lakhs per unit or 32.5% of the actual cost whichever is less for a unit with capacity ranging from 2000 to 6000 litres.

Most of the importing countries have prescribed stringent quality standards for agri products including spices. These standards are becoming more and more stringent and could become effective trade barriers impacting spice exports. It is therefore necessary to educate, motivate and support the growers to adopt hygienic post harvest practices to improve the quality of spices and to create a perception all over the world that India is a source of good quality spices.

This programme aims at construction of concrete/cemented drying yards in the farmers' field for drying spices like chilli, ginger, turmeric, pepper, seedspices and tree spices on clean and hygienic surfaces. The estimated cost of construction is Rs.600/- per square meter.

Eligibility : Growers having area upto 4 ha.

Subsidy : General Category - Rs.150/-per sq. mtr.(25% of the cost)
Scheduled Caste - Rs.300/-per sq. mtr.(50% of the cost)
Scheduled Tribe - Rs.540/-per sq. mtr.(90% of the cost)

Individual growers will be provided subsidy for construction of area upto 150 sq.mts.

Community drying yards by NGOs/Farmers’ Groups (SHGs), Association of Farmers & Agri. Market Committees will be given 50% of the cost of construction as subsidy and the maximum area of drying yard that is eligible by the group will be proportionate to the members thereof.

In order to dry spices under hygienic conditions, the Board subsidises the supply of polythene/silpaulin sheets to the small and marginal growers.

Eligibility : Growers having area upto 4 ha.

Polythene sheets- Upto 1 ha. two sheets and 1 to 4 ha.-three sheets.
Silpauline sheets- One sheet per beneficiary.

Subsidy : 50% & 33.33% of the cost to tribal growers and other category of growers respectively.

Board will arrange centralized purchase and supply of the sheets to eligible growers.

One of the important parameter which decides quality of spices is the percentage of moisture in the dried/cured produce. If moisture is excess than the optimum level there are chances for getting the product affected by mould and finally contaminated by the presence of mycotoxin (eg. Aflatoxin). As the curing and processing are on farm operations farmers are to be equipped with devices for detecting the moisture level present in the final product for maintaining the quality. Hence supply of moisture meter is proposed.

Eligibility : Growers having area upto 8 ha.

Subsidy : Rs.2500/-device towards 32% of the cost.

For ensuring quality of the final product maintenance of quality at every stage has to be taken care of. This requires education at all levels. Hence Quality Improvement Training Programmes are organized in all the spice growing tracts based on a schedule drawn up for the purpose every year. The trainings will cover topics on good agricultural and improved post harvest improvement practices which are authenticated by IISR, ICRI, various Agricultural Universities etc. for various spices. Technical literature on the subject are also distributed in vernacular.
The trainings are organized for farmers, traders, representatives of NGOs and Officers of State Agri./Horti. Departments. Incidental expenses for conducting the programmes are met by the Board at maximum costs fixed per programme . Farmers’ Goups, NGOs & State Depts. can collaborate with Spices Board for organizing such programmes.

Internationally, the niche market for organically produced spices is growing at a fast rate. Early entry into this segment will improve the exportability and demand for Indian spices. In addition, availability of organically grown spices will help the country to withstand competition from low cost countries in South East Asia. The major bottlenecks in promoting organic farming are non-availability of organic farm inputs and high cost of organic certification of farms and processing units. Hence the following programmes are proposed.

The programme aims to help growers/processors of spices in acquiring organic certification, which is a pre-requisite for marketing organic spices.
Board will assist individual farmers/processors and groups of farmers, NGOs and Farmers Co-operative Societies/Associations in acquiring certification for their farms/ processing units.

Eligibility : Possesion of a valid confirmation or inconversion or organic certificate from any of the Inspection And Certification Agency accredited under National Programme For Organic Production (NPOP).

Subsidy : 50% cost of the certification, subject to a maximum of Rs.75000/- for group of farmers, NGOs and Farmers Co-operative Societies/Associations.
Individual farmers and processors are eligible for 50% of the cost of certification subject to a maximum of Rs.25000/- per certification.

(Cost for maintaining Internal Control System in groups also will be considered within the maximum limit of Rs.75000/- provided the cost involved for ICS is certified by a competent authority decided by the Board).

A major issue faced by the spice industry is the presence of pesticide residue in the end product. There are chances of contamination of the product with pesticide residue at the production level due to non-judicious application of pesticides for controlling pest and diseases in the field. Board is now trying to reduce the number of sprays taking place in spice cultivation by various means like promoting organic farming, integrated pest management practices and biological control. For controlling diseases in spices especially in crops like cardamom, pepper, vanilla, ginger and turmeric application of bio-agents like trichoderma and pseudomonas are found effective. Multiplication of these bio-agents can be done in small-scale bio-agent units for distribution among the spice growers. Hence, Board proposes to set up bio-agent production units by providing financial assistance. The programme is proposed to be implemented with the participation of interested NGOs. This unit will also serve as a training center for personnel who are interested to start multiplication of bio-agents.

Eligibility : Selected NGOs having land for the purpose and building to set up the unit.

Subsidy : Support to purchase equipments and accessories and mother culture for setting up the unit at a maximum subsidy of Rs.1.30 lakhs per unit towards 50% cost.

Since the market for organic products is gradually registering an upward trend, there is good scope for promoting organic cultivation of spices in suitable locations. Board will assist growers in taking up organic cultivation of spices in identified spices and areas. Assiatance of selected NGOs having credible past records will be utilized for implementing the programme if requirement is felt by the Board.

Eligibility : Growers having area upto 8 ha.

Subsidy : Maximum of Rs.5000/- per hectare towards 12.5% of the estimated cost of production. Assistance for meeting cost of certification is also included in the subsidy.

One of the requirement for organic certification is on-farm production of inputs. Hence there is need to produce organic inputs in the farm itself to maintain soil fertility and to support organic production. Vermicompost is an organic manure which can be produced from farmwaste using earthworms. In order to enable the growers to produce vermicompost, setting up of vermicompost units are supported.

Eligibility : Growers having area upto 8 ha.(Upto4 ha.- two units and 4 to 8 ha. three units of one ton capacity per cycle)

Subsidy : Rs.2000/- per unit or 33.33% of the cost whichever is less for a unit with one tone output of vermicompost at a cycle.

Transfer of technical know-how to growers on production of spices is an important factor in increasing productivity. This programme envisages technical/extension support to growers on the scientific aspects of cultivation through personal contact, field visits, group meetings and through distribution of literature in vernacular languages for increasing productivity and improving quality of cardamom in the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, development of large cardamom in the states of Sikkim and West Bengal and selected spices in the North East and small pockets across the country. The schemes of Spices Board viz. Special Purpose Fund for Replantation & Rejuvenation of Cardamom Plantations and Export Oriented Production and Post-harvest Improvement of Spices are implemented through this extension network.

With the existing staff strength under the Extension Advisory Service of the Board it is difficult to implement the programmes envisaged during XI Plan, in time. Hence technical personnel will be outsourced to assist the implementing officers of the Board for proper and timely implementation of the various activities coming under the schemes for Export Oriented Production and Post-harvest Improvement of Spices & Special Purpose Fund for Replantation and Rejuvenation in cardamom plantations.

B.Sc Agri. / Horti. Graduates on contract/fixed/term basis will be outsourced purely as temporary hands by paying a consolidated amount of Rs.8000/-per month and TA & DA admissible as per norms.(If suitable hands are not available Science graduates, preferably Botany/Zoology, are proposed as alternative).

Inorder to encourage healthy competition among growers for improving production, productivity and quality of cardamom small, cardamom large, vanilla and organic spices, Spices Board has instituted awards for the best growers with one first prize and two second prizes in each of the above categories. The first prize carries a cash award of of Rs. 100000/-, citation and certificate. Each second prize carries cash award of Rs. 25000/-,citation and certificate(one is reserved for women grower). The nominations are collected through Board’s offices and awards given based on field assessment by an expert committee constituted for the purpose.

Submission of Application:

Submission of application in the respective office of the Board in the prescribed proforma in time along with documents required is needed for consideration under any programme.

Sanction of Assistance :

Sanction of assistance under the programmes will be based on prior permissions, physical verifications in plantations/farms by concerned officers of the Board and implementation of activities prescribed under the programmes by the farmer as per the working procedure laid down.

Release of Subsidy by E-payment :

All the beneficiaries should have an account in any of the Bank which is having RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) facility for arranging e-payment of subsidy directly to the beneficiaries account and the same may be intimated to the Board.