The Assam government is mulling a long-term partnership with the Spices Board India to ramp up production, processing and marketing of different spices.
Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota and Spices Board India Secretary M S Manivannan deliberated on the opportunities for advancing the state’s spice sector and unlocking its considerable potential.
Ginger, turmeric, chili, black pepper, garlic and coriander are among the major spices cultivated in the state.
“We also discussed establishing a long-term institutional partnership with the Spices Board, including through an MoU, to provide a sustained framework for technical cooperation, identification of suitable crops and regions, capacity building, processing and value addition, and market development,” Kota said in a post on X.
With over 1.08 lakh hectares under spice cultivation and production of more than 4.06 lakh MT in 2024–25, Assam has a strong foundation to build upon, he added.
“Discussed developing a region-specific strategy for select spices, identifying areas best suited to particular crops and building focused production clusters around them,” Kota said.
The potential for large cardamom in suitable areas of Assam was also explored, drawing on the Northeast’s experience in its cultivation and post-harvest management, he added.
“The objective is to move from production to stronger value chains and greater value realisation for our farmers, while opening new avenues for diversification, entrepreneurship and high-value agriculture in Assam,” the top government official said.
PTI
