ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute

 

District level seminar on Spices Production in Goa

Under

Misison for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

 

 

A District Level Seminar on Spices production in Goa was organized at ICAR- Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Ela,  Old Goa in collaboration with Spices Board, Kochi, Kerala, Government of India, during  28-29, January 2015. While delivering the inaugural address, Shri D.P. Dwivedi, Secretary (Agriculture), Government of Goa, highlighted the recognition of Goa state due to sound trading of  Black Pepper and Cashew.  He emphasized for realizing increasing trend of Black Pepper price due to increased  demand coupled with decreased  production level of black pepper in the state which need to be addressed on priority. Shri Orlando Rodrigues, Director, Directorate of Agriculture & Mission Director, Government of Goa, highlighted the scope for expanding cultivation of black pepper and other tree spices in coconut gardens in the state of Goa, as majority coconut gardens are without any intercrops. He further, emphasized the economic importance to be attached with Kokum, the indigenous spice, native to the Konkan region. He also motivated the farmers to take up the Kokum plantation on commercial scale by adopting improved cultivation practices. Dr Narendra Pratap Singh, Director, ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, inspiringly advised the farmers to take up the spice production on large scale to reap the benefits of low volume and high value of the spices, by adopting latest production technology from the research Institutes. Shri Siddaramappa, Director (Dev.), Spice Board, Kochi, announced the approval by Government of India  for opening of a new regional office of Spice Board at Goa within a month or so, for vibrantly supporting the production and marketing of spices in Goa in the years to come for the benefit of all the stake holders. During the technical Sessions, Scientists from Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut, Kochi; Agricultural Research Station (MPKV, Rahuri, Maharashtra); Spice Board and ICAR, Goa, gave detailed account of novel information on new varieties, improved production practices, techniques of planting material production,  plant protection practices, harvesting, processing  and value addition of black pepper, nutmeg, ginger and turmeric. Besides this, veteran progressive famers, Shri Shrihari Kurade of Cuncolim, Quepem, Goa and Shri Thimmappa Hedge of Sagar, Karnataka shared their practical experience on organic turmeric production & processing and commercial prospects of Kokum,  and commercial cultivation of nutmeg respectively, to the utmost pleasure of the participants. Prospects of processing of nutmeg pericarp, huge biomass of which is simply wasted, for converting it into a number of value added products were highlighted for deriving additional income from nutmeg trees. Primary processing of turmeric rhizomes was practically demonstrated. Officers from Spice Board pertinently, briefed the gathering about various Schemes or Programmes of Spice Board, available for supporting the spice crop production, processing, marketing and also for exporting  the  quality spices and spice products.

One hundred thirty and plus participants including Progressive farmers, Officers from Development department, other stake holders from various organizations from Goa participated in the seminar and interacted actively during the two day seminar. The deliberations of the seminar and open discussion during the interactive session led to the drawing of the following resolutions for follow up action to boost the spice industry in the state of Goa.

 

1.      Spice Board will open its new regional Office in Goa preferably in Ponda City, as it is central part of the state. The Board makes the office functional within a period of a month and a half.

2.      In order to create more awareness among the farming community about prospects of spice crops in Goa,   awareness programmes need to be organized at grass root level in the rural sectors.

3.      Based on the requisitions received from the farmers, coordinated arrangement jointly by Development Departments, ICAR-CCARI, Goa and Spice Board, can be envisaged for procuring quality planting material of improved varieties of Black pepper, Nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and turmeric, etc from IISR, Calicut, KAU, Thrissur and RFRS, Vengurla for providing the same to the farmers.

4.      Precise information on Organic spice production practices, standardized by the IISR, Calicut may be provided to the farmers and Spice Board may validate the same through  demonstrations in the farmers’ fields for quality spice production.