The Karnataka State Spices Development Board (KSSDB) has proposed to set up a state of the art quality control and testing laboratory for spices in the State, Shashikala Kavali, chairperson, KSSDB, has said.
Inaugurating the buyer-seller meet here on Thursday, Ms. Kavali said that a ₹150 crore proposal has been submitted to the government for this purpose. The proposed quality control and testing laboratory would be modelled along the lines of the one set by the Spice Board of India in Kochi. It also includes setting up of processing centres for pepper, cardamom and turmeric.
Karnataka is the only State to have its own spice development board. Although several varieties of spice are grown in the State, the farmers depend on middlemen to market them. The State has set the target of facilitating a direct marketing link between the producers and the exporters.
It is encouraging that 28 exporters and 150 farmers have participated in this meeting, she said.
Speaking on this occasion, S. Siddaramappa, director, Spice Board of India, appreciated the State government’s move to have a spice development board to promote spice cultivation. Though spice is cultivated in different States, not all have set up such boards exclusively to promote spice cultivation. Spice Board of India will extend all possible help to the State Board, he said.
The inaugural session was followed by an interaction between farmers and exporters. Both groups discussed the terms and conditions for selling and buying the produce.
