Highlights from National Spice Conference 2023 in Hyderabad

18 Nov, 2023

The second National Spice Conference (NSC) held on November 18-19, 2023, in Hyderabad, aimed to address challenges and promote responsible practices in the spice industry. Organized by the World Spice Organization, a non-profit partner of the All-India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF), and co-hosted by GIZ, the conference focused on "Food Safe Spices – The Way Forward to a Stable & Sustainable Income."

The event served as a crucial platform for industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders for knowledge exchange, facilitating the transfer of expertise the sustainability of the spice sector. Farmers' Producer Organizations (FPO) representatives and farmers engaged with experts, gaining insights into market trends and potential solutions.

Mr. Ramkumar Menon set the tone for the conference, and the inaugural address was delivered by Cherian. The first session, led by Dr. Poonam Pandey, Sustainability Expert from McCormick, focused on increasing farmers' income through sustainable agricultural practices, featuring case studies on supply chains, precision farming, AI, drone technologies, and regenerative practices in the spice supply chains.

In the third session, success stories took center stage as two master trainers showcased the impactful outcomes of the ‘Enhancement of Smallholder Spice Farmers Capacities in Sustainable Farming’ project. The project is a part of the Develop Public Private Partnership initiative by GIZ, implemented in collaboration with AVT McCormick and McCormick Switzerland. The project spans six states and involves five spices – Cumin and Dill seed (Rajasthan), Turmeric (Tamil Nadu and Karnataka), Cardamom (Kerala), Celery (Punjab and Haryana).

Ms. Kousalya Devi Viswanathan, from Chinnapuliyur, Erode, shared her enriching experiences and insights from exposure visits to BIOFACH India and the Cumin area in Rajasthan. She detailed how sustainable farming practices positively influenced Turmeric production quality and soil health. Complementing this, Mr. Thangamani shared valuable experiences, emphasising the advantages of sustainability certifications and market linkages realized through the DPPP spices project. These narratives provided tangible evidence of the positive impact of sustainable farming practices, resonating not only with individual farmers but also contributing to the broader success of the spice industry.

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For more information contact: biodiv.india@giz.de