AP CS chairs Spice Development Agency's meeting

Hyderabad, Aug 7 (INN): The Government of India constituted Spice Development Agency (SDA) to support various spice growing regions in the country and the SDA also designated at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh as the area covered with the spices like chillies, turmeric, tamarind and curry leaf, Chief Secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao said.

Under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, first meeting of the SDA was held today with the members of SDA to discuss on the activities and to build up the capacity of Agency for the better management of spices to meet domestic and other export requirements. Red chilli is one of the major crops in Guntur District and has tremendous potential in export of red chilli along with other spices.

Spices Development Agency will help to plan and support regional specific programmes for development and export of spices, to converge efforts of different agencies working for the development of Spices, to Co-ordinate and collaborate the functioning of Development, Research and Marketing agencies and to better co-ordination between the State and Central Government agencies. The SDA will function under the control of Spices Board, Government of India.

The SDA, Guntur has been constituted under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh with fourteen experts as members in the related field of Agriculture and Horticulture.

Aims and objectives of the Agency are to Coordination of functions of State and central agencies for overall Development. To undertake projects and programmes for export promotion of spices, to arrange and to provide assistance for improved method of cultivation, area expansion, processing and packaging. Promotional programmes for consumption of spices. To assist, encourage and create infrastructure for processing, packaging, ware housing and encourage studies on those lines. Evolve quality standards and introduce certification of quality of spices for export. Establish quality evaluation labs etc. Disseminate information on market price among all stake holders and to promote co-operative efforts among growers.

The agency will provide training on various aspects to the stakeholders. Provide training on various aspects to the stakeholders. Collect statistics from growers, traders etc., and will advise state and central Government on various aspects and policy matters.

Government of India will allocate funds basing on the annual plan and budget estimates prepared by the SDA after approval for better functioning and implementation of its activities, Chief Secretary said.

The Chief Secretary has interacted with all the members to know their view in developing the export methods of spices through SDA. It is observed that proper management facilities to be made by providing dryers to control moisture levels. Regarding turmeric two important issues are discussed supply of quality seed and supply of wood boilers are needed. He advised the Departments concerned that there is need devise schemes for supply of dryers for chillies; seed and boilers for turmeric on subsidy.

Horticulture Commissioner Chiranjiv Choudary, SDA Member Convener E. Mohana Rao and other members of SDA attended the meeting.