Farmers should be encouraged to think globally and to employ the best practices to successfully engage in the international spices market, Governor P. Sathasivam said on Monday.
He was speaking after inaugurating the fourth session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) hosted by the Spices Board in Kovalam. “If our people lag behind in reaching global markets, one of the reasons could be the non-adherence to global standards,” he said.
In other nations
Advanced practices with an eye on global standards have helped smaller nations do well in the global arena, he said. The Philippines has surged ahead in banana sales to become one of the top five in the world. Thailand is charting a success story in rice cultivation while Malaysia has been dominating rubber, cocoa and palm oil exports, Mr. Sathasivam said. “The Gulf countries, which are known to be dominated by deserts, are doing good work in agriculture, with Saudi Arabia exporting wheat,” he said.
25,000 tonnes lost
In fixing global quality standards for spices and culinary herbs, the need for transparency and promotion of fair practices is also paramount, he said.
He pointed out that Kerala had suffered a production loss of more than 25,000 tonnes of spices, valued at ₹1,254 crore, in the 2018 floods.
Established in 1963, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is an intergovernmental panel established jointly by WHO and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The CCSCH has already set standards for cumin, thyme, and pepper. In the current five-day session attended by around 100 delegates from 30 countries, it will discuss draft standards for oregano, basil, ginger, garlic, chilli pepper and paprika, nutmeg, saffron, and cloves.
Spices’ export
Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu, in a video message, said the Centre would make sure that Kerala and the spices trade became the guiding force for India’s agriculture exports. The Agriculture Export Policy gives due importance to promoting the export of organic spices, he said.
Setting standards for the large number of spices and herbs constitutes the challenge before the Codex committee, Rita Teaotia, chairperson, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), said.
Turmeric, cardamom
While quality standards were important to retain customers, the methodology adopted to set the standards for various spices also was important, M. Saravanan, director (Plantations), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, said. Spices Board secretary M.K. Shanmuga Sundaram welcomed the gathering.
The current session, which will conclude on Friday, will also discuss draft standards for turmeric and small cardamom.