Spices Board conducts BSM to address concerns of small cardamom industry

The spice recorded maximum growth in the first half of the current fiscal

The export of small cardamom has recently shown an upward trend during the first half of 2020-21, with a volume of 1900 MT valued at Rs 56.52 crores, registering an increase of 483 per cent in value terms and 369 per cent in quantitative terms.

The small cardamom sector does face challenges, both at the production and export fronts, due to natural calamities and other factors. Though the collective efforts of stakeholders have helped the Indian small cardamom sector to manage the challenges to a certain extent.

The Board conducted a virtual Buyer Seller Meet (BSM) recently to address the concerns of the small cardamom industry and to provide a common platform for the stakeholders to interact directly and establish effective business linkages. The BSM saw participation of more than 130 stakeholders. The BSM would help in sourcing quality cardamom for export to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.

Inaugurating the BSM, Adv Dean Kuriakose, Member of Parliament, Idukki, said that small cardamom is intertwined with the social fabric of the growers of Idukki and production and export of good quality cardamom will help to take this product worldwide.

Spices Board has been supporting the small cardamom stakeholders throughout the various stages of the supply chain. It has various programs/activities for assistance for area expansion, nursery management and post-harvest improvement, promoting good agricultural practices, integrated pest management (IPM) and use of bio-control agents, creating awareness through campaigns, training and other programs, promoting collaborative movements amongst growers through Spice Producer Societies (SPS), R&D support and so on.