Lok Sabha Question No. 551 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Export of Spices
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 551 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th SEPTEMBER, 2020

## EXPORT OF SPICES

## 551. ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािण�य एवं उ�ोग मं�ी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the export of spices has greatly reduced in the past few years and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is aware that cardamom faces an export ban by the gulf countries due to high concentration of pesticide; and
- (c) the details of programmes/schemes implemented/ being implemented by the Government to educate and train cardamom growers with modern and latest technology in the country to help them overcome such situations in future?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=h ( Jh ih;w'k xks;y ) THE MINISTER OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) The export of spices from India has been steadily increasing in the past few years. Year wise export of spices from India during the last three years is given below:-

| TOTALEXPORTOF SPICES FROMINDIA   | TOTALEXPORTOF SPICES FROMINDIA   | TOTALEXPORTOF SPICES FROMINDIA   |
|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| Year                             | Export                           | Export                           |
|                                  | Quantity (Tons)                  | Value (Million USD)              |
| 2017-18                          | 1096323                          | 3115                             |
| 2018-19                          | 1133889                          | 3322                             |
| 2019-20                          | 1193441                          | 3621                             |

As shown in the above table, the export of spices has increased from 10.96 lakh MT valued at 3115 Million USD in 2017-18 to 11.93 lakh MT valued at 3621 Million USD in 2019-20, registering an increase of 16.24% in terms of value in USD and 8.86% in terms of quantity.

(b)&(c):  Cardamom does not face an export ban by Gulf countries on account of  high concentration of  pesticide.    However,  Saudi  Arabia  Food  &  Drug  Authority  (SFDA)  had  detained  a  few consignments of cardamom (small) from India due to the detection of pesticide residue above the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) specified by the SFDA, in April-May 2018. Taking up of the matter with the Government of Saudi Arabia has resulted in revision in the   standards and checking protocols faced by Indian small cardamom exporters, in line with Globally accepted Codex Food Standards. As per the revised standards, MRLs are prescribed only for six pesticides in cardamom, as against over 120 compounds initially prescribed by the SFDA. Spices Board mandated a sampling and testing program for export of small cardamom to Saudi Arabia, to ensure   compliance with the Codex standards. The Spices Board has been conducting a series of campaigns in the major cardamom growing popularize  Integrated  Pest  Management  (IPM)  practices  among  cardamom  growers  and promote the use of bio-control agents for managing pests and diseases in cardamom. The Board is bio-inputs to farmers at subsidized rate for promoting the use of bio agents.   The Board has also issued an advisory to cardamom growers, on the judicious application of pesticides and the use of bio-control areas, to providing agents, in managing pests and diseases in cardamom.

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