A seminar on export-oriented with a focus on spices of Nagaland & launch of the pilot project on E- selling large cardamom was held on 28th October 2022 at Niathu Resort, 7th Mile, Chumoukedima.
MLA & Advisor, Dept. of Horticulture & Border Affairs, Mhathung Yanthan said the initiative taken by Spice Board will go a long way in creating opportunities for farmers to market, produce, and fetch revenue. He said that after the entry of the spice board, it has been developing and promoting spices cultivation across the country and Nagaland over the last 35 years, by implementing infrastructure and introducing high-tech cultivation.
He informed that promoting & export trade of spice is expanding quickly and moving from trade to industry. He said that large cardamon is the key initiative in integrating economic development trade. With the growing market and market competition, e- selling had come at an appropriate time which will further strengthen the sector of spices development. He added that this launching of e- selling will bring the spice-growing community together to participate in selling and buying spice products. He is hopeful that this digital platform will attract a huge number of exporters and traders.
He further urged the exporter and traders to support spice farmers by marketing their produces which are organic and pest and disease free.
Yanthan said that the quality standard, low productivity, socio-economic factors like storage facilities, and the non-existence of market infrastructure are the major challenges that need to be addressed. To make it a global spice, profitable, and sustainable, he requested all agencies, departments, and stakeholders to work in a joint effort in taking measures for more effective and enhancing e- selling.
ACP, Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS informed that India is the World’s largest producer of Spices and Large Cardamom, and the NE region plays an important role in contributing to this factor. Some of the prominent indigenous spices cultivated in Nagaland are Cardamon which covers 3,873 hectares and produces 2133 metric tons; Ginger covers 4,724 hectares and 35000 metric tonnes are produced; Turmeric covers 649 hectares and 9191 metric tons are produced; Raja Mircha which covers 606 hectares and 2490 metric tons are produced, with this progress the State is going at a good pace, he added.
Sema stated that the Department of Agriculture, Horticulture, Land Resources, and Rural Development have been supporting farmers with the assistance for the cultivation of Large Cardamom for the last several years to enhance the income of the farming community. The State Government with support from the GoI has taken many good initiatives in assisting the farmers in terms of the plantation, production, and post-harvest management. However, there are still many challenges such as drying, grading, packaging, and market linkages that need to be addressed in order to enable our farmers to get better price realization. Also, strategic intervention in pre and post-harvest management with innovative technologies, an Inclusive business plan, linkages with buyers, and an innovative platform for selling the products of our farmers should be the way forward, he said.
Sema mentioned that the initiative on the E- selling platform for Large Cardamom will be the first of its kind in the State and hoped that this opportunity will create larger market outreach, better opportunities for selling and buying, and ease the business process, and promote better transparency.
Earlier through a virtual meeting, D. Sathiyan, IFS, Secretary Spices Board, Kochi, and other dignitaries launched the pilot project on E- selling large cardamom. At the inaugural programme, a welcome address was delivered by Director (Marketing) Spices Board, Kochi, B.N Jha.
Meanwhile, at the technical session, the resource persons were B.N Jha, Director(Marketing) spices board, Kochi; T.C Deka, FTDO; Rajendra Sinha, DGFT, Guwahati; Ritrap Hazarika, Group Manager( Operations) Tea E- market place M- junction; Apurba Mishra, Zonal Incharge, AMUL, Guwahati; Dr. D. M Barman, Deputy Director, spices board, RO Guwahati; DGFT, APEDA, State dept. of Industries, Agriculture, Horticulture, M- junction, AMUL.
(Tovikali, IA Chumoukedima)
