The flourishing development of turmeric in India’s tropical areas, which are known for their heavy rainfall, serves as one example. On the other hand, colder and drier subtropical regions are ideal for growing spices like cumin.
Giving his insight on this Spices Mission by Odisha Government, Principal Secretary Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, says: “Our vision is to harness the diverse agro-climatic zones of Odisha and leverage them to establish the state as a powerhouse in spice cultivation. This mission is a testament to our commitment to empower local farmers, promote sustainable agricultural practices and preserve our rich spice heritage. We believe that, by supporting a variety of spice crops, including the cultivation of seed spices, we can create a comprehensive and robust spice ecosystem that will not only enhance the livelihoods of our farmers, mostly tribal, but also elevate the reputation of Odisha’s spices on both the national and international arena.”
To pave the way for diversification into other spices, the Directorate of Horticulture under DA&FE organized a sensitization workshop for officers and field officials on August 25th at the Centre of Excellence, Deras, Bhubaneswar. The workshop focused on advanced agro-techniques for spice crop production, value addition, processing, and marketing of the produce, aimed at enhancing the income of spice growers who are cultivating crops in various agroclimatic conditions of Odisha.
In a significant development, the Department recently allocated Rs 2 Crores as a Revolving Fund to the Kandhamal Apex Spices Association for Marketing (KASAM), with the aim of streamlining turmeric and spice procurement as well as market linkages in the Kandhamal district. This initiative is expected to offer livelihood support to farmers of the district and boost spice production in the area.
To facilitate smooth implementation of this initiative, the revolving fund has been disbursed to the Collector & District Magistrate (DM) of Kandhamal, who also serves as the President of KASAM. The fund will be managed within a designated bank account solely under the Collector’s control. This provision will remain in effect as long as the Collector continues to hold the position of KASAM President
