Bhubaneswar: In an effort to encourage the spices growers and facilitate them with an export-oriented unit in the State, the Odisha government is expected to set up a Spices Park soon.
“I have spoken to the authorities of Spices Board. If we have sufficient number of entrepreneurs in the spices segment, then we can invite them for another round of discussion. We will also try to establish a spices park in Odisha if everything goes well,” said LN Gupta, principal secretary of the Odisha government for small and medium enterprises.
The official informed that the park will be modelled on the Seafood Park near Khurda being developed by State PSU Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO).
“They (Spices Board) have agreed to provide all technical support. If 20-30 entrepreneurs come forward, we will be able to set up the park. It could be a kind of the Food Park being set up in Deras near Khurda,” Gupta added.
The unit will be an exclusive export-oriented unit, the official informed.
The southern districts of Koraput, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Gajapati are known for large scale cultivation of high value spices like black pepper and cardamom. Officials said, the Kandhamal district is very soon going to be figured in the export map with pepper grown in nearly 100 acres in the district.
Besides, spices like turmeric and ginger are also in great demand in foreign countries owing to their organic content and multiple uses. The turmeric of the district has medicinal value.
Reports said in the first four months of the current year, around 500 tonnes of processed turmeric and ginger slices were exported to the European countries.