Government boosts turmeric exports through SPICED scheme

The Indian government is promoting the export of spices, including turmeric, through the "Sustainability in Spice Sector through Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative Interventions for Export Development (SPICED)" scheme, which the Spices Board implements. This scheme includes various programmes aimed at boosting exports, such as implementing food safety and quality assurance mechanisms, supporting post-harvest quality upgrades, providing assistance for processing and value addition, and organising training sessions for stakeholders to improve quality and encourage entrepreneurship. The government also ensures that export consignments of turmeric comply with the quality standards of importing countries by evaluating them through quality evaluation laboratories and organises domestic and international Buyer Seller meets to create direct market links between farmers, exporters, and international buyers. To further capitalise on the potential of turmeric and its products, the "National Turmeric Board" was established via a notification on October 4, 2023.

The National Turmeric Board has multiple objectives, including promoting the development of new products and value addition in turmeric, increasing awareness and consumption of turmeric products in international markets, and facilitating market research in potential international markets. It also works to improve infrastructure and logistics for exporting turmeric, build resilient and sustainable supply chains, and ensure compliance with quality and safety standards. Other goals of the Board are to promote capacity building and skill development for turmeric growers, strengthen the documentation of traditional knowledge related to turmeric, and encourage studies and research on its medicinal properties. The top five importers of Indian turmeric since 2020 are Bangladesh, the UAE, the USA, Malaysia, and Morocco. India’s share of world turmeric exports has remained strong, ranging from 58% to 66% between 2020 and 2024. The highest export value was in 2024, at US$ 333.25 million.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.