India, known as the home of spices, boasts a long history of trading with the ancient civilizations of Rome and China. Today, Indian spices are the most sought-after globally, given their exquisite aroma, texture, taste and medicinal value. India is the world's largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices; the country produces about 75 of the 109 varieties listed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and accounts for half of the global trading in spices. The Indian spices market is worth ₹400 billion annually. Key spices produced in the country include pepper, cardamom, chilli, ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, celery, fennel, fenugreek, ajwain, dill seed, garlic, tamarind, clove, and nutmeg among others.
India possesses many innate advantages over other spice producing countries, its large genetic base, varied soil and climatic conditions, and skilled human power. However, in many of the spice crops productivity is low in India like black pepper, small cardamom. Declining soil fertility, use of low level of inputs like manures, fertilizers and crop protection measures, high labor cost and crop loss due to diseases, lack of resistant varieties and post harvest losses are the major reasons.
Over the years, India’s share in world spices market has not appreciated much and its monopoly as a supplier of spices is threatened by countries like China, Brazil, Vietnam, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey and other African and Caribbean countries. India also faces shortage of exportable surplus because of increasing domestic demand. Sharp fluctuations in the quantum and value of exports and in the unit value realization have characterized the spices trade in recent years. This conference would therefore help to address the issues and concerns of the Indian spices sector.
The Conference aims at achieving the following specific objectives:
