Spice industry urged to adapt to modern technology

Deputy Director General at ICAR emphasizes innovation and value addition for Indian spice industry at SYMSAC XI.

Sanjay Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Sciences) at ICAR, has said innovation and adapting to latest technologies is key for the Indian spice industry to maintain its position globally. Opening the 11th National Symposium on Spices and Aromatic Crops (SYMSAC XI) on the theme ‘Strategies for smart production, product diversification and utilisation’ in Kozhikode on Tuesday, Mr. Singh emphasised the critical need for value addition and certification in the spice trade. He highlighted that these factors were essential for enhancing the quality and global competitiveness of Indian spices.

The three-day symposium, hosted by the ICAR- Indian Institute of Spices Research and organised by IISR in association with the Indian Society for Spices (ISS), saw eminent agricultural scientists from different parts of the country proposing ideas that could sustain the spice industry at its current position.

Sudhakar Pandey, Assistant Director General at ICAR, who was the guest of honour at the inaugural ceremony, cited the difficulty in penetrating the market in developed countries due to quality issues and pointed out that 16% of Indian spices were being rejected due to the same issue. He called for a concerted effort by all stakeholders to ensure the quality of Indian products.

Homey Cherian, Director of the Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development, commented that India should focus on production of sustainable, chemical-free and safe spices rather than on volumes. Manoj P. Samuel, Executive Director of CWRDM, H. Manoj, General Manager of NABARD, R. Dinesh, Director of ICAR-IISR, K. Kandiannan, Principal Scientist and president of ISS, and V. Srinivasan, Head of the Division of Crop Protection, spoke on the occasion.

SYMSAC XI hosts over 200 participants, including scientists, researchers, students, farmers, and industry leaders. It includes various invited lectures, lead talks and paper presentations addressing the spices and aromatic crop sector.

A Smart Farming Technology exhibition has also been set up as part of the symposium, showcasing the latest advancements in farming technologies. A Farmer-Scientist-FPO-Industry Interface is also scheduled for the final day of the event, which provides a platform for direct dialogue between farmers, scientists, and industry professionals

The Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development, ICAR-National Research Centre on Seed Spices, and the Spices Board, Kochi, are also associating with the event that concludes on Thursday.