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G.K. Nair

KOCHI, May 4

EXPORTS of spices during the last fiscal have increased by Rs 165 crore to Rs 1,790 crore from Rs 1,625 crore in 2001-02 and thus surpassed the target of Rs 1,765 crore set by the Government.

The rise in export earnings could be attributed to the increase in exports of chilli, which had gone up to 83,000 tonnes valued at Rs 301.55 crore as against 75,000 tonnes worth Rs 255.84 crore the previous year and the target of 70,000 tonnes valued at Rs 245 crore.

Another significant factor contributed to the increase is the inclusion of all mint products in the spices schedule by the Union Commerce Ministry after a reconsideration of this matter. Hitherto all these products were not included in the spices schedule and hence, all the exports of mint and mint products were not accounted for by the Spices Board.

With this change, the total exports of mint oil and other mint products had gone up to 8,500 tonnes valued at Rs 360.56 crore as against 3,600 tonnes valued at Rs 127.64 crore in 2001-02 and the target of 3,800 tonnes worth Rs 140.50 crore set by the Government.

The total exports in 2002-03 stood at 2,50,950 tonnes valued at Rs 1,790 crore as against 2,45,000 tonne worth Rs 1,625.35 crore the previous year. Mr Kannan, Director Marketing, Spices Board, told Business Line that compared to last year, exports had shown an increase of two per cent in terms of quantity and 10 per cent in rupee value. Spice oils and oleoresins, including mint oil and menthol crystal, contributed 40 per cent of the total export earnings followed by chilli (17 per cent) and pepper (9 per cent).

During the financial year 2002-03, exports of chilli, coriander, fennel, fenugreek, other seed like ajwanseed, mustard etc., garlic, nutmeg and mace, curry powder and mint oil are higher in terms of quantity and value as compared to last year. Exports of turmeric have shown an increase in terms of value only. Exports of cardamom (large) and ginger have shown an increase in terms of quantity only while exports of spices such as pepper, cardamom (small), cumin, celery, other spices like tamarind, asafoetida, vanilla, saffron etc. and spice oils and oleoresins have shown decline both in terms of quantity and value.

Exports of chilli had recorded an all-time high both in terms of quantity and value during the last fiscal by exporting 83,000 tonnes valued Rs 301.55 crore, Mr Kannan said. The coriander exports had also gone up from 15,000 tonnes valued Rs 45.04 crore to 15,500 tonne valued Rs 47.85 crore. During 2002-03, 4,200 tonnes of fennel valued Rs 16.67 crore were exported as against 4,000 tonnes valued Rs 16.28 crore the previous year. "Similarly, we have exported 11,250 tonnes of fenugreek valued Rs 25.00 crore as against 6,000 tonnes valued Rs 15.10 crore of last year. Besides, exports of other seeds like mustard, ajwanseed and dillseed etc., stood at 12,250 tonnes valued Rs 29.24 crore as against 5,000 tonnes valued Rs 17.67 crore in 2001-02," he said. There was increase in exports of garlic, nutmeg and mace and curry power.

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