Lok Sabha Question No. 3871 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: Spice Farmers in Kerala
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Adv K. Francis George

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.    3871

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  August, 2025

## SPICE FARMERS IN KERALA

3871. ADV K. FRANCIS GEORGE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS' WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that spice farmers in Kerala, particularly cardamom growers in high range districts are facing significant production losses due to adverse climate conditions such as prolonged heat waves, erratic rainfall and droughts;
- (b) if so, the details of crop loss estimates and affected farmer numbers reported from Kerala in the current and previous financial year;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  extended  any  special  assistance  packages,  subsidies  or compensation to spice farmers affected by such climate-related crop failures; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof including scheme-wise and district-wise allocation and utilisation?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI  RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a)  & (b): Spices Board is mandated with the Export Promotion of spices and quality evaluation of  spices  exported  from  India  (53  scheduled  spices  and  its  products)  &  Research  and Development of Cardamom (Small & Large). The Board has mandate for production and research for cardamom. As per the information provided by Spice Board due to adverse climate conditions, there was a decrease of 19.93% in production of cardamom in Kerala state, from 22868 MT in 2023-24 to 18310 MT in 2024-25, as per the crop estimate for 2024-25. It has also been observed that plantations with proper shade regulation, canopy size and irrigation facilities have survived with  minimal  damage.  Further,  for  the  current  year,  the  preliminary  crop  assessment  for cardamom is in progress.
- (c)  & (d): The Board is implementing the central sector scheme 'Sustainability in Spice Sector through  Progressive,  Innovative  and  Collaborative  Interventions  for  Export  Development (SPICED)'  from  FY  2024-25,  for  the  benefit  of  stakeholders  of  spices  sector  across  India, including the State of Kerala. Under the SPICED scheme various programs are implemented for the  cardamom  farmers  for,  area  expansion  /  replanting  of  cardamom,  production  of  quality planting  materials of  Cardamom  for  replanting  /  new  planting,  providing  assistance  for constructing water harvesting /storage facilities and installation of irrigation equipment etc. Also, with a view to facilitate realization  of remunerative  returns by the spice farmers, the Board is providing  assistance  for  post-harvest  improvement  of  spices  (including  cardamom),  which includes  support  for  purchase  and  installation  of  improved  curing  devices,  graders,  cleaners, washing equipment etc. aimed at improving the quality of the produce, thereby facilitating better price realization by the farmers. The details of assistance provided to Spice Farmers in Kerala under the SPICED Scheme is attached as Annexure 1.

## Annexure 1: Details of Assistance provided to Spice Farmers in Kerala

| No   | Assistance extended under SPICED Scheme to spices farmers in Kerala during 2024-25   | Assistance extended under SPICED Scheme to spices farmers in Kerala during 2024-25   | Assistance extended under SPICED Scheme to spices farmers in Kerala during 2024-25   | Assistance extended under SPICED Scheme to spices farmers in Kerala during 2024-25   | Assistance extended under SPICED Scheme to spices farmers in Kerala during 2024-25   | Assistance extended under SPICED Scheme to spices farmers in Kerala during 2024-25   | Assistance extended under SPICED Scheme to spices farmers in Kerala during 2024-25   | Assistance extended under SPICED Scheme to spices farmers in Kerala during 2024-25   | Assistance extended under SPICED Scheme to spices farmers in Kerala during 2024-25   |
|------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|      | Name of programme                                                                    | IDUKKI                                                                               | IDUKKI                                                                               | WAYNADU                                                                              | WAYNADU                                                                              | WAYNADU                                                                              | PALAKKAD                                                                             | TOTAL                                                                                | TOTAL                                                                                |
|      | Name of programme                                                                    | fin                                                                                  | ben                                                                                  | fin                                                                                  |                                                                                      | fin                                                                                  | ben                                                                                  | fin                                                                                  | ben                                                                                  |
| 1    | Replanting/New Planting (Kerala &TN)                                                 | 268.07                                                                               | 2093                                                                                 | 1.02                                                                                 | 7                                                                                    | 3.05                                                                                 | 18                                                                                   | 272.14                                                                               | 2118                                                                                 |
| 2    | Planting Material Production (Small Cardamom)                                        | 24.51                                                                                | 187                                                                                  | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0.82                                                                                 | 8                                                                                    | 25.33                                                                                | 195                                                                                  |
| 3    | Construction of Water Storage Structure (Small cardamom)                             | 17.7                                                                                 | 58                                                                                   | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 17.7                                                                                 | 58                                                                                   |
| 4    | Rainwater Harvesting Structure (Small cardamom)                                      | 7.83                                                                                 | 49                                                                                   | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 7.83                                                                                 | 49                                                                                   |
| 5    | Irrigation Pump Set (Small Cardamom)                                                 | 13.03                                                                                | 53                                                                                   | 0.3                                                                                  | 1                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 13.33                                                                                | 54                                                                                   |
| 6    | Micro Irrigation/Sprinkler/ICT Enabled Equipment (Small Cardamom)                    | 9.21                                                                                 | 17                                                                                   | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 9.21                                                                                 | 17                                                                                   |
| 7    | Weather Based Insurance for Cardamom (small cardamom)                                | 62.21                                                                                | 670                                                                                  | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 62.21                                                                                | 670                                                                                  |
| 8    | QGBG-Setting up of Post-Harvest Machines                                             | 13.85                                                                                | 889                                                                                  | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 13.85                                                                                | 889                                                                                  |
| 9    | Spices Polishers                                                                     | 8.46                                                                                 | 31                                                                                   | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 8.46                                                                                 | 31                                                                                   |
| 10   | Spice Cleaners/Graders/Spiral Gravity Separators                                     | 1.32                                                                                 | 3                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 1.32                                                                                 | 3                                                                                    |
| 11   | Spice Washing Equipment                                                              | 15.31                                                                                | 29                                                                                   | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 15.31                                                                                | 29                                                                                   |
| 12   | Improved Curing Devices for Small Cardamom                                           | 26.43                                                                                | 21                                                                                   | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0.78                                                                                 | 1                                                                                    | 27.21                                                                                | 22                                                                                   |
| 13   | Care and Cure Centers for FPOs                                                       | 2                                                                                    | 1                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 2                                                                                    | 1                                                                                    |
| 14   | QITP                                                                                 | 2.09                                                                                 | 1093                                                                                 | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0.08                                                                                 | 40                                                                                   | 2.17                                                                                 | 1133                                                                                 |
| 15   | Extension Advisory Services                                                          | 24.85                                                                                | 13                                                                                   | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 0                                                                                    | 24.85                                                                                | 13                                                                                   |
|      | Grand Total                                                                          | 483.02                                                                               | 4318                                                                                 | 1.32                                                                                 | 8                                                                                    | 4.73                                                                                 | 67                                                                                   | 489.07                                                                               | 4393                                                                                 |