SATISH HANDA
Demand of spices, herbs produced in India useful to increase immunity in human body, especially, ginger (Adrak), coriander (Dhania) and turmeric (Haldi) during present Corona epidemic outbreak spread all over in the world has been much increased not only in the country but also witnessed huge demand in export markets since past sometime in-spite of economic crisis and industrial sickness faced by industry in the country adversely affected trade and industry in the country as well as domestic sale and exports of general products since past several months. According to P. Sathian Secretary Spices Board, its first time in the country export of spices crosses sale worth Rs 21515 crore due to heavy demand of Indian spices useful for increasing immunity in the body in nearly 185 countries as a result export of Indian spices witnessed nearly 178% increase as compared to previous year.
Sathian told that that exports witnessed nearly 10% increase with effect from April to July 2020 in-spite of the fact the country was facing lots of problems in manufacturing, dispatching material due to lock down in-spite of maximum number of orders procured by the exporters for Haldi (Turmeric), Dhania (Coriander), Zeera (Cumin seed) and other spices in-spite of problems faced by the manufacturers and exporters were able to export nearly 433000 ton spices of value worth Rs 7760 crore during period April to July 2020 as against export of 392265 ton spices of value worth Rs 7028 crore in this period during 2019. According to Sathian , Corona affected large number countries much earlier than in our country started in the month April this year as such Indian exporters had bagged handsome export orders during previous financial year witnessing 28% growth in export of Cardamom (Ilaichi), 12% each growth in export of mixed spices, curry powder and curry paste.
According to information, Indian spices are in much demand in countries including China, USA, U.K, Bangladesh, Thailand, UAE, Srilanka, Mylasia, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, Germany and other European countries. According to available data, our country is exporting maximum quantity of spices nearly 24% share of total export of spices to China, followed by 16% export to USA, 6% each export to Bangladesh and UAE and 5% export to Thailand. Information also reveals that during the year 2019-20 so far export of Ginger (Adrak) has recorded 178% increase in demand as compared to year 2018-19, Cumin Seed (Zeera) has recorded 16.4% increase in demand this year as compared to previous year, Coriander (Dhania) has recorded 2.7% increase in demand as compared to previous year, Turmeric (Haldi) recorded 2.25% increase in demand as compared to previous year and Methi recorded 1.8% increase in demand as compared to previous year in export market.
