While exports of spices have fallen by nearly 30 per cent, it has been the exports of value-added spice products which have been heartening and point to good prospects. And the export of these products, curry powder or spice oleoresins or mint oil, have shown a consistent and steady growth over the years. And according to sources in the Spices Board, there will soon come a time when these value-added products will surpass the export of spices as such.It is believed that nearly 90 per cent of the global production of spice oleoresins is in India.
Exports of value-added spice products which stood at Rs 358.19 crore in 1997-98, jumped to Rs 459.26 crore and in 99-2000 it was around Rs 470 crore. For the six months of this fiscal it has touched Rs 264.34 crore and is expected to surpass the 99-00 figure to touch the Rs 500-crore plus mark.
Sources point to the case of the seafood exports where value-added products, which though not having a major share in the export basket, have been showing consistent rise. With bulk export of pepper, depending mainly on the availability of the stock in the international market, and countries like Brazil dropping their prices and holding a sway in the market and also new producers coming in, there is every likelihood of the market witnessing severe ups and downs as is the scene now.
It is in these conditions that there is the need to have a shift and go in for exporting value-added products, exporters say. There could be a 50 per cent drop in bulk pepper exports this year. However, these falls could be countered with shifts to value-added products, they add.
Availability of quality material could mean a massive hike in export of value-added spice products.
Export of spice oleoresins started way back in in 1971-72. Around three tonne of the product was exported then and fetched Rs 1.41 lakh. From there it has been a success story and in 98-99 touched 2,750 tonne to fetch over Rs 300 crore.
Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
