India has big share in world trade of spices

Chandigarh, Sep 10 (UNI) India alone contributes about 35 per cent in the production and export of spices and aromatic plants in the world trade.

This was stated today by Research Director of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Dr B S Chhiler while inaugurating the three-day national seminar at the university on 'Present Research Trends on Spices and Aromatic Plants'.

Dr Chhiler said that despite the fact that India held such a prominent place in the production and export of spices and aromatic plants, there was an urgent need to maintain and increase the production of horticulture, spices and aromatic plants in the country in view of the stiff global competition and increased interest of people in these products.

In Haryana also, the production of these products besides foodgrains has increased to three to six folds since the inception of the state.

As many as 63 different varieties of spices were cultivated in the country as per the survey of Indian Bureau of Standards which mainly includes black pepper, ginger, turmeric and coriander. The demand of these products is very high in the global market, he added.

He said Haryana has also made strenuous efforts for increasing the production of these crops in the state. The setting up of an Herbal Park on an area of 184 acres at Yamunanagar and rising popularity of cultivation of these crops on the Panchayati lands will certainly yield more encouraging results.

Director Horticulture Satyavir Singh gave a brief description of the efforts being made in promoting the cultivation of these crops in Haryana.

Dr Mathura Rai, Director, National Vegetable Research Institute, Varanasi urged the participating scientists to make efforts to bridge the gap between the production and the rising demand of these crops.

He said at present India is contributing only 1.5 per cent in the production of organic products. However, in future there would be a sharp rise in the demand of such products at the national and international level. ''Hence, the scientists should pay special attention on the quality of products.'' As many as 100 Agricultural experts from all over the country are participating in the seminar being organised by the Department of Vegetable Sciences and Medicinal, Aromatic and Under-utilised Plants section of the University.

UNI MA AK CS1956