Nod for setting up of spice parks likely

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Kochi, Feb 11: The Spices Board, with support from state governments, is planning a series of spice parks in the country to support growers and processors. Even as the proposal was expected to be cleared under the 11th Plan, a memorandum of understanding for the first series of such parks is to be signed on Tuesday in the presence of Union minister of state for commerce Jairam Ramesh.

The parks are proposed to be set up in the heart of spice-growing areas where the processing units will be set up. The proposal is to have warehousing facility, including controlled storage if necessary. Growers could use this facility to scientifically store their good.

Besides different units that could take up value-addition, there would also be a quality control laboratory which would help the units meet international quality standards. The proposal was also to bring in national commodity exchanges to the parks to facilitate futures trading. With the warehousing facility, growers could use the receipts as negotiable instruments.

Jairam Ramesh had already announced that a park would be set up in Guntur, the heartland of chilli cultivation.Spices Board chairman VJ Kurien said the MoU between the board and Kinfra, the nodal agency for setting up the park, would be signed on Tuesday. He said that the park was proposed in Idukki district which would give the growers of pepper and cardamom the advantage.

Kinfra managing director Suresh Babu said the park would be on the lines of the Rubber Park on the outskirts of Kochi where the state government through Kinfra and the Rubber Board would have 50% equity each.

Though the exact location for the park was yet to be finalised, industry ministry sources said, adding that would be in Idukki as proximity for the growers was the idea behind the parks and the proposal was to have at least 100 acres set aside for this.