The past and present of Indian spices

Prima facie India's spice sector seems to be doing quite well, with both production and export scaling new peaks in 2024-25, maintaining a steady long-term uptrend.

- SURINDER SUD

But some glaring snags still need to be fixed to realise the true potential of this sector.

While output is estimated to have doubled over the past one decade, from less than 6 million tonnes to a record 12 million tonnes, export too has burgeoned by a whopping 88 per cent in volumes and 97 per cent in value, during this period. Net export in 2024-25 amounted to a record 1.79 million tonnes, worth around $4.72 billion. This robust performance upholds India's historic image as the "land of spices", which lured several explorers, including the legendary Vasco da Gama at the end of the 15th century, to this country. It also validates India's status as the global leader in spices.

However, sector analysts are far from satisfied with this showing and maintain there is ample room for improvement. The potential of this business is fairly high, thanks to favourable climate, a long tradition of growing annual, as also perennial, spice crops, supportive government policies, and, most importantly, rapidly growing international demand. The overall value of the country's spice market, reckoned currently at around ₹2 trillion, can touch, or exceed, ₹5 trillion in next five years, they point out.