Spices and Condiments (1+1)

Area and production

 
• Some of the important spices of India are pepper, cardamom, chilli, ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, celery, saffron, tamarind and garlic. Spices produced and exported in small quantities are aniseed, bishop's weed (ajowan), dill seed, poppy seed, tejpat, curry leaves, cinnamon, kokam and a few other culinary herbs. Certain spices, though cultivated in the country, are imported for want of sufficient production. Such spices are clove, nutmeg, mace, star-anise, allspice and some of the herbal spices like rosemary, thyme, marjoram, oregano, chive, parsley, sage, savory, tarragon and basil. Commercial cultivation has still not commenced in vanilla and paprika, but there is immense potential for their production and export. The area and production of important spices in India are given in Table 3.
• Kerala retains the lead in black pepper production in the country, contributing 96% of area and 97% of production. The black pepper area in India increased from 0.8 lakh hectares in 1950-51 to 1.92 lakh hectares in 1990-00. Similarly, production increased from 20,500 tonnes to 58,290 tonnes from 1950-51 onwards, mainly due to the lucrative prices prevailing for black pepper in the domestic and international markets. The annual growth rates observed for area, production and productivity of black pepper for the last decade were 1.3, 3.3 and 1.5%, respectively. However, it is paradoxical to note that in spite of highly favourable climate, improved varieties and high-tech production technologies, the productivity of black pepper in the country is very low (303 kg/ha) compared to the other pepper producing countries (3 to 4 t/ha).
• Black pepper production in the country during 2002 was estimated at 65,000 tonnes while the global production was assessed to be about 3,10,000 tonnes. However, the Jakarta-based International Pepper Community had projected Indian pepper production to be around 80,000 tonnes during 2002. Vietnam, with a production of 55,000 tonnes (2001), is a strong competitor for India in the international trade of black pepper. If Vietnam, presently the second- largest producer of black pepper, maintains its current rate of growth in production, there is no doubt that it might overtake India in a couple of years. The production and productivity of Indian pepper is highly influenced by the oscillating prices, which were quite pronounced recently. The cost of one kg black pepper was only Rs. 30 in 1990-91, but went up to Rs. 170 during 2000-2001 and nose-dived to Rs. 55— 65 in January—February 2002. At its peak, in November 1999, black pepper was sold at Rs. 270/kg.
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  Table : Area under spice cultivation in India during the IX Five Year Plan

  Spices	1996-97 (base year)	1997-98	1998-99	1991-2000	2000-01	2001-02	Average annual growth rate (%)
  Pepper	180.26	181.53	238.32	247.85	257.77	268.08	8.80
  Ginger	70.29	75.57	77.61	80.71	83.94	87.30	4.44
  Chillies	944.20	840.60	892.20	927.89	965.00	1003.60	1.43
  Turmeric	135.20	139.70	155.80	162.03	168.51	175.25	5.37
  Coriander	425.70	656.50	546.50	568.36	591.09	614.74	8.05
  Garlic	94.30	108.80	114.40	118.98	123.74	128.68	6.50
  Cumin	307.05	288.83	264.02	274.58	285.56	296.99	-0.50
  Fennel	25.90	28.28	18.32	19.05	19.81	20.61	-2.81
  Fenugreek	36.32	77.40	82.67	85.98	89.42	92.99	26.38
  Celery	4.60	4.59	4.60	4.78	4.98	5.17	2.40
  Clove	2.30	2.30	3.17	3.30	3.43	3.57	9.97
  Nutmeg	6.30	6.47	6.47	6.73	7.00	7.28	2.94
  Cinnamon	0.83	0.73	0.73	0.76	0.79	0.82	-0.01
  Others	111.96	113.00	112.36	116.85	121.53	126.39	2.47
  Total	2372.21	2524.30	2517.17	2617.86	2722.57	2831.47	3.63

  Source : DA &SD, Calicut('000 ha)
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  Table 4 Production of spices during the IX Five Year Plan ('000 tonnes)

  Spice	1996-97 (base year)	1997-98	1998-99	19991-2000	2000-01	2001-02	Average annual growth rate (%)
  Pepper	55.59	57.33	65.99	69.00	79.00	85.32	9.06
  Ginger	232.51	252.11	263.17	284.22	306,96	331.52	7.30
  Chillies	1066.40	870.10	921.30	995.00	1074.60	1160.57	2.30
  Turmeric	528.90	549.20	598.40	646.27	697.97	753.81	7.36
  Coriander	255.50	337.70	290.00	313.20	338.26	365.32	8.41
  Garlic	437.90	484.40	517.70	559.12	603.85	652.15	8,30
  Cumin	117.91	116.27	109.72	118.50	127.98	138.22	3.40
  Fennel	28.98	37.18	24.18	26.11	28.20	30.46	3.47
  Fenugreek	51.06	65.33	80.00	86.40	93.31	100.78	14.88
  Celery	6.00	6.5	4.50	4.86	5.25	5.67	0.31
  Clove	1.78	1.66	2.80	3.02	3.27	3.53	17.19
  Nutmeg	1.49	1.53	1.53	1.65	1.78	1.93	5.34
  Cinnamon	0.37	0.36	0.36	0.39	0.42	0.45	4.26
  Others	20.61	21.35	30.82	33.95	35.95	38.82	14.39
  Total	2805.00	2801.02	2910.47	3141.04	3396.80	3668.55	5.57

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  (Source: DA & SD, Calicut)
• Cardamom, the 'Queen of Spices', enjoys a premium preference in the international market and is relished for its distinct enriching properties. The data on area under cardamom cultivation in India reveal that there was not much fluctuation during the last four decades. The highest area of 1 lakh hectares was recorded during 1985-1986, which was reduced to 72,400 hectares in 1999-2000. Cardamom production declined to as low as 3,500 tonnes in 1998-1999 and rose to 10,450 tonnes in 2000-2001. The record price of cardamom was realised during 2001-2002, which was as high as Rs. 680/kg during January, 2002. The price of cardamom exhibits a firm trend, largely on account of the sharp decline in production in Guatemala.
• India is the foremost producer and exporter of chillies. Among the various spices produced in the country, per capita consumption is the highest for chillies. Trends in area, production and productivity show a marked increase from 1950-1951 to 1999-2000. During 1999-2000, the area under the crop was 9.15 lakh hectares with a production of 10.18 lakh tonnes. The price of chilli was Rs. 32.01/kg during 2000-2001 which is slightly less than the average of the last three years (Rs. 35.44/kg).
• Turmeric is a multipurpose crop valued for its colouring pigment, spicy flavour and medicinal properties. The area and production of turmeric in the country showed increasing trends during the last five decades. The highest area (1.69 lakh hectares), production (6.98 lakh tonnes) and productivity (4,130 kg) was recorded in 2000-2001. The annual growth rates in area and production for the last ten years work out to 3.7% and 9.1%, respectively. The price of turmeric had plummeted to around Rs. 26 kg during 2000-2001, while the average price for the last three years has been Rs. 33/kg.
• Garlic is a major spice grown in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Orissa and Rajasthan. The crop is grown over an area of 1.14 lakh hectares with a production of 4.95 lakh tonnes (1999-00). The price of garlic has nose-dived to Rs. 9.46/kg during the current year from the average of Rs. 17.58/kg for the last three years.
• Ginger is one of the oldest known spices in the world and Indian ginger is highly valued in the global market because of its characteristic lemon-like flavour. Being an annual crop, the area and production are highly influenced by price fluctuations. The crop exhibited an annual growth rate of 4.6% in area, 7.4% in production and 2.7% in productivity. During 1970-71, the area under ginger was only 21,590 hectares which went up to 77,600 hectares in 1999-2000 and 83,940 hectares in 2000-2001. Ginger prices have remained almost constant at Rs. 35/kg during the last three years.
• Vanilla is another important spice crop gaining momentum at the international level, as a result of the global movement to return to natural products. The present global demand for vanilla is around 32,000 tonnes as against the production of just 2,000 tonnes, creating a shortage of 30,000 tonnes. The climatic conditions prevailing in South India, particularly Kerala, are highly favourable for vanilla cultivation. Another important positive aspect is the lucrative price of vanilla in the domestic and global markets. At the present price of Rs. 800/kg, of raw beans, any farmer can enthusiastically venture into vanilla cultivation. The area under vanilla cultivation is, at present, quite meagre.
• Nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, tejpat, tamarind and Garcinia are the important tree spices grown in India. The area under these crops is registering an upward trend mainly because of the attractive prices, both from domestic and international markets. Garcinia is a tree which is gaining importance due to the presence of an antiobesity factor and pro-hydroxy citric acid in the fruit rind. The area under nutmeg is 10.210 hectares with an annual production of 2,250 tonnes; while for clove, the area and production are 3,250 hectares and 2,940 tonnes, respectively. Cinnamon occupies an area of 730 hectares with a production of 370 tonnes. All other tree spices put together register an area of 14,190 hectares with an annual production of 5,560 tonnes. The production of spices in the country has increased by 2.2 lakh tonnes during the first three years of the IX Five Year Plan.
• Among the spices grown in the country, seed spices account for 37% and 17% of the total area and production, respectively. Seed spices contribute to approximately 24% of export and 10% of the national income from spices. Out of the 17 seed spices produced in the country, coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, dill seed, celery and poppy seeds are important in selected pockets. The average annual growth rate was only 3 per cent, which was far below the estimate. The main reason was the decrease in the production of chillies. Since chillies is the highest in quantity among spices grown, the change in production will be reflected significantly in the total spices production of the country. The production of all the major spices except pepper and chillies has increased up to the targeted level during the initial years of the plan period.

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