GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
(DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE) 

RAJYASABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4358
TO BE ANSWERED ON MAY 16, 2012
Setting up Spices Parks by Spices Board

4358. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR: 

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:

 (a)   whether it is a fact that the Spices Board has recently decided to set up Spices Parks in various  parts of the country to promote the cultivation of spices on a large scale;

(b)   if so, the details thereof; and

(c)    how many Spices Parks will be set up in Karnataka, which has a vast potential for spices cultivation?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)

(a)   & (b) Yes, Sir. Government has approved establishment of Spice Parks to provide common infrastructure facilities in the major spices growing centers for cleaning, processing, color sorting, grading & packing facilities etc for value addition and quality improvement of spices. At present two Spices Parks viz. Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh and Puttadi in Idukki district of Kerala have Started functioning. A Spice Park at Jodhpur   in Rajasthan was recently inaugurated on 7.4.2012.

(c) Before approving a proposal for setting up the Spice Park, a due diligence study is conducted to assess  its feasibility and requirement based on spices grown in that area. Moreover, Government land free of cost should also be available. The number of Spices Parks to be established during the 12^th Five Year Plan, including in Karnataka will be decided in accordance with the outlay that is finalized.