Lok Sabha Question No. 3655 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-21
Subject: Export of Spices
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: RANJEET RANJAN, RAJESH RANJAN  (PAPPU  YADAV)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3655 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST     DECEMBER, 2015

## EXPORT OF SPICES

## 3655(H). SHRIMATI RANJEET RANJAN: SHRI RAJESH RANJAN:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government is aware that large deals for export of various spices such as turmeric powder, coriander powder chilli powder and dry ginger powder have been undertaken by big traders recently;
- b) if so, the details thereof;
- c) whether such large exports of spices have led or are likely to lead to shortage of these spices in the country; and
- d) if  so,  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  import  these  spices  into  the  country  to meet their shortage and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्् य एवं उद्योग राज्् य मंत्री ( सीतारमि निममला श्रीमती ) ( स्वतंत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) to (d): India is the largest producer and exporter of spices in the world. The annual production of spices in the country is around 6 million tones, out of which about 12 to 14% is exported while the rest is available for domestic  consumption.  Spice  processing  units  and  traders  regularly  export  spices  e.g.  turmeric  powder, coriander powder, chilli powder, dry ginger powder etc in various forms including value added forms and earn valuable foreign exchange for the country.

No shortage is expected in supply of major spices like chilli, ginger, turmeric, coriander etc. in the domestic market on account of export. The details of production and export of spices such as turmeric, coriander, chilli and ginger along with the percentage of export in production during the last three years is given at the Annexure 1.

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Annexure 1

| Spice/Year   | Production (MT)   | Export (*) (MT)   | %of export in production   |
|--------------|-------------------|-------------------|----------------------------|
| Turmeric     |                   |                   |                            |
| 2012-13      | 986690            | 88513             | 9%                         |
| 2013-14      | 1092630           | 77500             | 7%                         |
| 2014-15      | 844470            | 86000             | 10%                        |
| Coriander    |                   |                   |                            |
| 2012-13      | 503240            | 35902             | 7%                         |
| 2013-14      | 496240            | 45750             | 9%                         |
| 2014-15      | 462270            | 46000             | 10%                        |
| Chilli       |                   |                   |                            |
| 2012-13      | 1378400           | 301000            | 22%                        |
| 2013-14      | 1376400           | 312500            | 23%                        |
| 2014-15      | 1631320           | 347000            | 21%                        |
| Ginger       |                   |                   |                            |
| 2012-13      | 669350            | 22207             | 3%                         |
| 2013-14      | 683160            | 23300             | 3%                         |
| 2014-15      | 755950            | 40400             | 5%                         |

(*) including whole, powder etc.

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