Why in the News?
The Spices Board of India has decided to disburse ₹130 crore to almost 45,000 beneficiaries in 2025-2026 under the SPICED (Sustainability in Spice Sector through Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative Interventions for Export Development) Scheme.
Back2Basics: Spices Board of India
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About SPICED Scheme and its Features:
- Launch: It is launched by the Spices Board under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Timeline and Budget: The scheme runs till 2025–26 with a total outlay of ₹422.30 crore, aligned with the 15th Finance Commission period.
- Objectives: It aims to boost spice exports, improve cardamom productivity, enhance post-harvest quality, and promote value addition and sustainability.
- Funding Support: In 2025–26, about ₹130 crore will be distributed to 45,000 beneficiaries.
- Focus Areas: Includes Mission Value Addition, Mission Clean and Safe Spices, promotion of GI-tagged spices, and development of Spice Incubation Centres.
- Priority Beneficiaries: Special focus on farmer groups, FPOs, FPCs, SHGs, SC/ST communities, SMEs, and exporters from the North-East.
- Monitoring: All activities are geo-tagged for transparency and tracking.
Key Facts about Spices Production and Trade:
- Global Position: India is one of the largest producers and exporters of spices, cultivating 75 of 109 ISO-listed spices.
- Major Producing States: Include Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and others.
- Key Spices: India grows and exports pepper, cardamom, chili, ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, fennel, celery, nutmeg, and spice oils.
- Top Products by Volume: Chili, cumin, turmeric, ginger, and coriander account for 76% of production.
- Export Leaders: Chili is the top export earner, generating around $1.1 billion annually. Ginger exports are growing at 27% CAGR.
- Export Value: In 2023–24, India exported $4.25 billion worth of spices, capturing 12% of the global spice trade.
- Export Destinations: India exported to 159 countries. Key markets include China, USA, Bangladesh, UAE, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, UK, and Sri Lanka — together accounting for 70% of exports.
| [UPSC 2019] Among the agricultural commodities imported by India, which one of the following accounts for the highest imports in terms of value in the last five years?
(a) Spices (b) Fresh fruits (c) Pulses (d) Vegetable oils |
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