Spices Board to set up parks in all NE states

Itanagar: The Spices Board of India would set up ‘Spice Parks’ in all the states of North-East to process and market spices from the region, Board’s Chairman A Jayathilak said here on Saturday.
Addressing a seminar here, Jayathilak said that the board officials have held meetings with various state governments and suitable lands have been identified for establishing such parks with funding from ASIDE (Assistance to States for Development of Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities).
He said, Arunachal Pradesh government had identified ten acres of land at Ziro in Lower Subanisiri district where the board had carried out a feasibility study.
Jayathilak said, “The board prepared comprehensive projects for development of spices and submitted to all the state governments of the region for funding from Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) under the union Agriculture Ministry.”
“This is an effort to make available exportable surplus with due importance for qualitative production of spices. I request all state departments to evaluate these projects and recommend for funding from MIDH,” he said.
Stating that North East always been a priority for the Board, Jayathilak said, the region produces a variety of spices like ginger, turmeric, chillies, large cardamom, tejpat and pepper with its congenial agro-climatic conditions.
“The spices produced in the region are organic and closer to nature and most preferred by consumers all over the world,” he said adding, Naga and Bird’s eye chilies cultivated in the region were popular due to its intrinsic qualities.
Giving a chronology of various schemes implemented by the Board in the region, the chairman further added that the Board had extended large cardamom cultivation in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland and could cover 2, 748 hectares area.
“The Board has extended support for organic cultivation of Lakadong turmeric in an area of 5, 763 hectares and ginger in another area of 6, 898 hectares in the region by extending financial assistance and extension support besides programmes on cultivation of Naga chillies in identifies areas in small scales,” he said.
“All these programmes are supplemented with organic certification, production of organic manures, extensive training programmes on internal control system and quality improvement,” he said. (PTI)