Tamil Nadu - Salem   

Call to step up spices production in India

Photo: E. Lakshmi Narayanan

Informative booklet: Periyar University Vice-Chancellor M. Thangaraju (centre) releasing the souvenir at the national seminar on Spices Economy of India in Salem on Thursday. Professor and Head of Yercaud Horticulture Research Station V. Lakshmanan (right) receives the first copy. Department of Economics Head S. Rajendran is in the picture. —

SALEM: Good agricultural practices should be implemented to overcome the challenges in spices production in the country, Professor and Head of Yercaud Horticulture Research Station V. Lakshmanan has said.

He was inaugurating the two-day national seminar on Spices Economy of India, organised by the Department of Economics of Periyar University here on Thursday.

Prof. Lakshmanan said that India, which was the largest producer of spices in the world, was facing a number of challenges in the field.

The fast-changing agro climatic condition, depleting water resources, low productivity, new pests and diseases and changing food habit were affecting spices cultivation in the country.

The low productivity remains a serious cause for concern in spices production and this was the result of several reasons.

For instance, the black pepper productivity in India was 281 kg, while it was over 1,500 kg in many other countries, he pointed out.

To overcome these challenges, the country had to adopt scientific methods of cultivation, develop new crop varieties and ensure effective post harvest management.

“We should also take up organic farming and value addition,” he added.

Mr. Lakshmanan also pointed out that countries such as Vietnam and Thailand were posing stiff competition in the export of spices in the international market.

With the good agricultural practices, the country could face the competition and emerge successful, he said.

Periyar University Vice-Chancellor M. Thangaraju, presiding, appealed to the economics students to contribute to the growth of the country.

Department Head S. Rajendran, Lecturers A. Saravanadurai and A. Sugirtha Rani spoke at the seminar and expressed their views.

Students, faculty members and research scholars from various institutes attended the conference.

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