SPICED Scheme:
The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry has approved a Spices Board scheme, ‘Sustainability in the spice sector through progressive, innovative and collaborative interventions for export development’ (SPICED) scheme.
- SPICED Scheme is aimed at significantly enhancing the export of spices and value- added spice products as well as improving the productivity of cardamoms and upgrading the post-harvest quality of spices across India for export.
- It is implemented during the remaining term of the 15th Finance Commission, up to 2025-26.
Key highlights of the Scheme:
- It is expected to facilitate value addition and to drive innovation and sustainability in the spice sector by introducing new sub-components/programs like the Mission Value Addition, Mission Clean and Safe Spices, promotion of GI spices, support for entrepreneurship through Spice Incubation Centres, etc.
- The scheme gives thrust on farmers groups / FPOS / Farmers Clusters identified under ODOP and DEH, SC/ST community, Exporters from NE region, and SMEs.
- While exporters with a valid Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices (CRES) are eligible for assistance under these programs, preference will be given to first-time applicants, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), etc.
- The programs under the components such as Improving the productivity of cardamom and Post-harvest quality upgradation of spices are specifically designed to empower farmer groups, including Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in key spice-growing regions.
- These groups will be prioritized for post-harvest improvement of spices, with targeted assistance provided to enhance creation of an exportable surplus of spices, in compliance with the applicable food safety and quality standards.
Scheme activities will be geo-tagged and fund availability, status of applications under different components, list of beneficiaries, etc. will be published in the Board’s website for better transparency.
