Spices Board-Promotion of Organic Farming
Spices Board-Promotion of Organic Farming
India has dominated the global spice production thanks to perfect climatic conditions and other geographic factors. Our country is responsible for about 75% of the world’s spice production. In order to maintain and improve this share, the Spices Board was established. Its goal is to develop and promote Indian spices both in domestic and foreign markets.
Objectives & Activities of Spices Board
Some of the major objectives of the spice board are:
- Support research and development activities in spice production
- Improving and monitoring the quality of spices
- Promote spice production in the northeast region
- Offer assistance for export of spices
Promotion of Organic Farming
Spices Board undertakes the following activities to achieve its objectives:
- Registration and licensing of spice farmers
- Certification for better quality control
- Monetary assistance to spice growers
- Infrastructure development
- Dissemination of best practices in spice production
- Assistance to spice exporters and importers
Scheme Overview
Taking into account the rising demand for organic produce, the Spices Board is implementing a programme for the promotion of organic farming. Being the largest producer, exporter and consumer of spices in the world, there is a great scope for organic production in this sector. This programme aims to:
- Equip spice farms with facilities to aid organic production of spices
- Educate growers about the benefits of organic farming
- Help them achieve relevant certification for marketing organic produce
- Enable value addition to organically grown spices
Major Components at a Glance
The Promotion of Organic Farming Programme has seven major components:
- Organic spice cultivation: Financial assistance is available to meet part of the production cost for organic growers of some identified spices.
- Assistance for Internal Control System (ICS) groups: These groups are mandated to inform growers regarding organic farming techniques and also monitor their adoption. Monetary support is offered for the maintenance cost of ICS.
- Organic certification: Financial support can be availed for organic certification expenses of spice farms and spice processing units.
- Vermicompost units: Manure for improving the fertility of the soil is essential for better yield and quality of spices. Under this component, growers can get monetary assistance for vermicomposting facilities.
- Bio agent production unit: Bio agents are used in organic farming as a replacement for chemicals to control the spread of pests. Financial support is available for the setting up of production, training and demonstration units of biocontrol agents like Trichoderma, Pseudomonas, Verticillium, Beauveria, and EPN.
- Organic seed bank: Such banks aim to improve the accessibility of planting materials such as seeds by multiplying their availability. Growers can easily source high-quality seeds through the banks. The focus is on native herbal spices, turmeric and ginger.
- Organic value addition units: Value addition makes products better suitable for export. The purpose is to establish processing units close to the spice farms.
Eligibility Criteria
Component-wise eligibility conditions to avail assistance under the promotion of organic farming programme are given below:
- Organic cultivation: Spice growers are eligible
- ICS group assistance: Spice Grower groups can apply under this component
- Organic certification: Following entities may apply:
- Spice farmer or processor groups
- Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the spice sector
- Cooperative societies
- Other associations in the sector
- Vermicompost units: Growers can apply to set up units in their spice gardens
- Bio agent production unit: Applicants must possess the relevant technical capability and a proven track record. Following entities are eligible:
- NGOs in the sector
- Farmer Self Help Groups (SHGs)
- Spice grower societies
- Any other spice farmer group
- Organic seed bank: Individual farmers of indigenous ginger, turmeric and herbal spice varieties who already possess organic certificates are eligible.
- Value addition unit: Eligible applicants must have a valid scope certificate for C1/C2/C3 organic production. They may be entities like:
- Spice farmers’ societies
- NGOs in the sector
- SHGs in the sector
- Women’s groups
- ICS groups
Quantum of Assistance
Financial support available under the programme for the promotion of organic spice farming is given in the table below:
|
Component |
Assistance |
| Organic cultivation | 12.5% of production cost, capped at Rs.12500 per Hectare |
| ICS group assistance | 50% of the maintenance cost of ICS subject capped at Rs.75000 |
|
Organic certification |
For groups/societies: 50% of certification cost capped at Rs.1 lakh For individual growers: 50% of certification cost capped at Rs.30000 |
| Vermicompost unit | Rs.3000 (33.3%) for a unit with one-tonne output capacity |
|
Bio agent production unit |
50% of the cost (includes equipment, accessories and mother culture) capped at Rs.1.50 lakhs |
|
Seed bank |
· 50% plantation material cost capped at · Rs.25000 per hectare for ginger and turmeric · Rs.15000 per hectare for herbal spices |
|
Value addition unit |
For setting up primary processing units, 50% of equipment/machinery cost capped at Rs.5 lakhs. Building construction cost is excluded. |
Application Process & Documents Required
Interested applicants for the organic spice promotion programme must contact the nearest Spices Board office for application forms. A list of the office locations can be found at the official website: http://www.indianspices.com/
Along with filled in application forms, applicants must also submit certain documents for financial assistance under the scheme for promotion of organic farming. Component-wise document requirements are listed below.
- Organic cultivation: Copies of the following are needed:
- Land document
- Voter ID
- First page of bank passbook
- Contract with the certification agency
- Organic certification:
- Along with Part-1 of the application form, copies of:
- Contract with the certification agency
- Estimate regarding the cost of certification
- For groups: Registration and other details of the group and its members
- Along with Part-2 of the application form, copies of:
- Scope certificate (C1/C2/C3) or organic status
- Annexures from certifying authority
- Invoice or receipt from certifying authority regarding payment of inspection and other charges
- Bio agent unit:
- List of members of the applicant group
- Details regarding village cultivated area and area growing spices
- Land and building ownership proof through land tax receipt
- Detailed Project Report (DPR)
- Quotation for machinery required for the unit
- Details of management staff for the unit
- Building plan
- Layout for equipment installation
- Copy of the group’s bank passbook first page
- Post receipt of permit order, MoU with board
- Vermicompost unit: Copies of the following
- Land documents like a tax receipt, etc
- ID proof like voter ID
- First page of bank passbook
- Seed bank:
- ICS letter as proof of organic farming
- Scope certificate
- Value addition unit:
- Registration details of the group
- List of group members who are organic spice growers
- Copy of scope certificate from competent authority accredited with NPOP
- Land ownership document like a land tax receipt
- Quotation from the chosen manufacturer
- Copy of the group’s bank passbook first page
- Post receipt of permit order, MoU with board
- Along with Part-1 of the application form, copies of: