“The fact that value added products can be exported from India will soon be proved with the establishment of Spices Park,” said Union Finance Minister P.Chidambaram while inaugurating Tamil Nadu’s first Spices Park at Muthupatti near Sivaganga on Sunday.
Exhorting the farming community to make good use of the facilities at the park, Mr. Chidambaram said that the establishment of the processing plants by exporters will create local employment opportunities.
He also assured that steps would be taken to bring in more spices such as curry leaves and coriander that can be processed and exported from Sivaganga.
The Spices Park set up in Sivaganga at a cost of Rs. 20 crore is aimed at creating infrastructure and processing facilities for turmeric and chilli produced in Tamil Nadu. The State holds around 10 per cent of the total production of spices in the country and is the second largest producer of turmeric. The average production of turmeric in the State is over three lakh tonnes per year.
Thanking the State Government for the allotment of land for the Spices Park, Mr. Chidambaram appealed to the cadre of various political parties to unite and strive for the growth and development of Tamil Nadu.
Turning point
In his address, Anand Sharma, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry said, “It is going to be a turning point for the people especially the farmers of Sivaganga.”
“Value addition of spices is significant, and it benefits the economy of the nation,” he added.
Speaking of quality control, Mr. Sharma also said that the Spices Board has set up 200 laboratories in the country to meet the international quality standards.
Highlighting the schemes implemented by the State Government for the farmers in Tamil Nadu, S. Damodaran, Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister, urged the Centre to approve various schemes proposed by the State.
