SPICES BOARD INDIA

PRESENTS
“THE EPRP PROJECT”
RESTORY ON ORGANIC
EPVs IN INDIA
THE INITIATIVE AND THE MOTIVATION

►Spices Board of India wanted to introduce and

demonstrate ORGANIC SPICE FARMING FOR EXPORTS.

►Spice farming was not the mainstream mandate of the

Board.

►Growing export potential and a workshop on EPVs

(ITC December 1998) motivated the Board to take
up this initiative.
► Project EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL COMMUNITIES TO
EXPORT ORGANIC SPICES was presented to DM 2000
jointly by the Board and ITC.

► Awarded for implementation with an allocation of $ 250,000.

► A Pilot initiative – Export led Poverty Reduction Programme

The Objectives and the Route

►Promoting Rural Clusters of organic spice farms.

►Demonstrating Organic Systems to farmers groups.

►Assisting farmers groups in obtaining Organic

certification acceptable to International markets.
►Capacity building of FARMER GROUPS/NGO through
development of common facility centers for processing and
value addition.

►Handholding NGOs to graduate as an Exporter.

►Assisting the farmer groups/NGOs to Export the

organic products like Pepper, Ginger, Turmeric, Nutmeg,
Mace, Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano and Value added
products from these spices.
PROJECT BENEFICIARIES

DIRECT

NGO partners, PDS, WSSS, HOPE,Samanwita.

Rural Spice Farmers in the four project sites - 335 families of

which 135 are tribals.
Also an awareness group of 1400 farmers around the project
site. Farmer Groups in one site (Nilgiris) 90% women and in
other sites 40 to 50% women.
INDIRECT

Indian Spices Export Sector – getting introduced as a

source for Certified Organic Spices.

Government Agencies introduced to a model for

replication in other similar sectors.

Spice Consumers – getting chemical free – natural – good

quality spices.

Demonstration of Environment friendly export related

activity.
The Strategy

► Ensures export oriented production

activity.

►Organic farming enriches soil fertility – Hence

sustainability, disease resistance – Long term
improved productivity.

►Premium price (now 25% - 75%) motivation to farmer.

Even though niche market growing fast (10 to 50%).

►Introduce small scale farming in rural area more suited

for B.P.L. sector in LDCs and Developing countries.
►Needs personal care and integrity of the producer to
ensure brand loyalty by the consumer.

►Even after the project is completed private exporters

engage them in contract farming. This has already
started.

►Being niche, needing personal care and quality

assurance.
Not very much suited for large scale production.
Major Activities/Achievements

►Demonstrated organic farming practices.

►Trained in preparation of Organic inputs like vermi

compost, botanical and herbal pesticides/fungicides.

►Members of SHGs trained in gainful employment and

introduced to government funded schemes (floriculture,
medicinal plants collection, animal husbandry).
►NGOs and farmer group leaders trained in Value addition
techniques, packaging, labeling, storage etc.

► Training in development of SMEs, Export finance, export

procedures and documentation, export costing, primary
value addition etc.
► Trained in Documentation for organic certification,
periodic reporting, communication – Export
procedures documentation, Trade Fair participation
etc.

► General topics of value – Gender in development,

mother and child care, de-addiction, community
sanitation, small savings.
► All the 4 NGOs provided with a P.C. with necessary tailor
made software

● for documentation of organic certification

● for periodic reporting (quarterly) of project activities

● for maintaining farmers training modules

►A website developed and domain hosted for the NGOs.

Highlights activities – about the farmer groups and DM
project activities.
Also a market promotion tool.
►The farms have now been certified organic
by IMO.

►A Herbarium established in HOPE, Nilgiris

►A study of organic markets in Germany, Netherlands,

Belgium and Switzerland done.
Findings of the study disseminated to all stake holders.

►Representatives of all the 4 NGOs participated in

the Bio-fach , 2002, 2003, and 2004 at Nurnberg
Germany.

►A workshop organised for NGO’s and extension officials

to educate on preparation of a bankable project.
Major Tasks – Projected and Achieved
Projected
1. SHGs to cover 350 families and
764 acres
2. 6 Master Trainings (one day)
3. 36 Group Trainings
Achieved
As of March 2004 2160 families
and 4660 acres covered.
6 Master Training programmes
by November 2002, One more in
June 2003. (Two programmes
were 2 day duration).
3 more specific need based
trainings/ workshops. Two of
them 1 week and one of 2 days.
36 trainings done from 2000 to
2002 itself. 16 more trainings were
done in 2003 and 2004 (March).
4. Infrastructure for Market Project Monitoring Software
Promotion and Project development for all NGOs.
Monitoring Website developed and regularly
updated.
-Basic processing facilities for
value addition developed.\
-Quality Testing Lab for basic
parameters established
-Branded consumer packs
developed by two NGOs.
5. Group certification for Organic
Farms 764 acres.
As of March 2004, area covered is
4660 acres of which 3500 acres
certified. Balance 1160 under
conversion. Will be certified by
April 2005.
Internal Control Systems
developed by the NGOs.
Products covered beyond spices –
coconut, banana, jack fruit and
vegetables. Sustainability through
Spices Board Scheme of 50%
grant in aid for certification till
2007.
6.  Market Study – Europe
Fact Finding Mission of
Organic Sector in Europe
 NGO Participation in Bio-
fach 2002
Market Study accomplished
Mission accomplished
NGO participation in Biofach
2002, 2003 & 2004.
Exclusive organic stall for the
NGOs in World Spice Congress
2002 & 2004. (more than 125
delegates from 40 plus countries.
Produced the Project Film
Established Herbarium in
HOPE, Nilgiris.
Project Manager attended
Executive Forum – Cancun
September 2003.
Many Food writers from
abroad visited the project sites in
the last 3 years.
Organic Farming as a system is fast
growing in the Agri Sector in India,
especially Spice sector.
Understand several LDCs and
developing countries desire
replication.
► Export of organic Spices and Spice Products from
India improving

Year Qty. in MT Value in US$

2000 38 0.29 million
2001 97 0.57 million
2002 102 0.53 million
2003 220 1.13 million
 MAJOR SPICES EXPORTED

 Black Pepper
 White Pepper
 Ginger
 Turmeric
 Clove
 Nutmeg
 Rosemary
 Thyme
 Vanilla
 Cardamom
REPLICABILITY

► Components of the Project – Organic production,

Integrated Pest Management, Contract farming, Value
addition at farm level are activities easily replicable.

► IPM and Organic cultivation reduces cost of production,

ensures healthy food, protects environment – agriculture
sustainable.

► Possible sectors for replication – Cashew cultivation and

processing Coir and other natural fibre, fisheries etc.
Replication is easily possible when

1. Product quality is most important factor.

2. A human touch and skill more needed than machine

precision.

3. When processing activity not easily amenable for

machine handling.

4. When consumer expects quality assurance based on

personal integrity of the producer.
 SPICES BOARD INDIA
AND THE BENIFICIARY GROUPS
THANK
ITC,GENEVA AND THE WORLD BANK