Mint park mooted in UP

Mysore, July 14(UNI) Union Minister of state for commerce Jai Ram Ramesh today said the Centre was contemplating to establish a mint park in Uttar Pradesh which has been contributing to 80 percent of spices exports of the country.

Talking to newspersons here he said of the 800 million dollars of spices exports,mint has contributed nearly 80 percent. To encourage more mint cultivation, the government plans to establish the park.

He said another spice product,chillies which was second in the spices exports of the country,has a zero value addition and great demand in the many countries.

The ministry also plans to set up another chilly park at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh,he added.

He said the third spice variety which have been contributing to our export was pepper and ginger.

He said he has asked the spice Board in Kochi to coordinate with the Cochin University for more research to increase production.

UNI