Mr Anand Sharma, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry and Mr Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister Rajasthan jointly inaugurated the Spices Park at Jodhpur. This is the first seed spices park in the country with private and public partnership.
The Jodhpur Park in 60 acres is part of the 10 spices park being set up by the Spices Board at an investment of Rs167crore across the strategic locations in the country by the end of 2012. Out of which, Rs75crore are already invested in three completed spices parks in Chhihdwara in Madhya Pradesh, Puttady in Kerala and in Jodhpur.
The other parks will be completed during the year in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Kota in Rajasthan.
As many as 17 companies are investing in the Jodhpur Park with their own plans for value addition. The park has common infrastructure and processing facilities for the seed spices especially cumin and coriander. The machineries in the park are capable of processing of other seed spices like fennel and fenugreek.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sharma said that the government would be focussing on technological development with foreign direct investments, setting up of cold storages across the country so that the farming population would be benefitted through fair prices. The country is facing nearly 40 per cent loss of fruits and vegetables as they perish without proper storing facilities, he said.
He cited the example of how farmers in Maharashtra are selling onion in the Mandies at Rs2 per kg while ultimate consumer in the terminal markets end up paying Rs18 per kg. This practice should go and the government will see that disparity in prices and ensure better return to the farmer.
The Minister also lauded the Spices Board for the commissioning of the project in record time.
Mr Ghelot announced that any extra land available in the vicinity of the park will be given for expanding the Spices Park