Spices from North East for Commercial Exploitation

INTRODUCTION North Eastern Region (NER) of India has an ocean of opportunity, resources and unexplored potential when it comes to agriculture & horticulture. Region is blessed with several comparative advantages like fertile soils, favorable climatic conditions, rich biodiversity, forest wealth, educated manpower as well as a geographically strategic location acting as a gateway to the South-East Asian countries. It is the hub of organic & exotic produces, spices & herbs & is a basket full of opportunities for the unusual.

- Subhas Bhattacharjee*

With its proximity to South East Asian markets, being home to diverse & exotic variety of fruits & spices, this region could emerge as a major Centre of agribusiness & can command a high price both in domestic & international market. Though it has all the potential to actively contribute to the betterment of farm incomes, reduce poverty and speed up the overall economic growth, but due to multitude of challenges at several levels, the true potential of the region is not getting realized and the region has not grown as fast as it should have. Realizing that agriculture & Horticulture as the main occupation of the majority of the population of northeast, prosperity of the region hinges on the processing of agro-horticultural produce and production to value-added products.

NE Region has conducive agroclimatic conditions for the production of high-valued spices like Turmeric, Ginger, King Chillies (Naga Chilli), Bird’s eye chilli (Mizo Chilies), Bay leaves and Large Cardamom. Spices grown are naturally organic or by default. Region is the largest producer of Large Cardamom in India (more than 90%) and largest germplasm conservatory of large cardamom in the world; largest producer of Ginger in India (more than 40% of total production of the country) and high curcumin varieties of Turmeric (Lakadong turmeric); high pungent Chilli grown in India is the King chilli, Bird’s eye chilli also known as Mizo Chilli, Dalle khursani (round chilli); organic Black pepper, best quality Bay leaves (Tejpatta) and the region is also potential source of Cinnamon, Aniseed, and Long pepper.

INFRASTRUCTURE