India Unveils SPICED Scheme to Strengthen Spice Exports and Global Market Presence.
National
In May 2025, the Spice Board of India, based in Kochi, Kerala, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), Government of India (GOI), launched the Sustainability in Spice Sector through Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative Interventions for Export Development (SPICED) scheme.
- The SPICED scheme will be implemented during the remaining period of the 15th Finance Commission (FC) cycle, continuing until the financial year 2025-26 (FY26).
- The scheme has a total approved outlay of Rs. 422.30 crore, out of which Rs. 130 crore has already been disbursed, benefitting around 45,000 beneficiaries.
- The scheme aims to strengthen India’s spice sector by promoting sustainability, encouraging innovation, and boosting export development.
Main Point :- (i) Enhance cardamom productivity, improve post-harvest quality, and boost exports of value-added, organic, and Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged spices. This includes installing modern post-harvest machinery like dryers, slicers, dehullers, polishers, turmeric boilers, mint distillation units, and threshing machines.
(ii) Establishment of Spice Incubation Centres to aid startups and MSMEs; promotion of Mission Clean and Safe Spices for better food safety compliance and certification; and encouragement of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), organic certification, and GI-tagged spices, especially in the North Eastern Region.
(iii) The scheme targets farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and exporters, with priority given to SC/ST communities, North-Eastern states, and first-time exporters.
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