Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare addressed concerns regarding spice farmers in Kerala facing production losses due to adverse climate conditions. The Spices Board is implementing the SPICED scheme to support spice farmers across India, including those in Kerala, with various programs aimed at improving production and post-harvest practices. The scheme began in FY 2024-25.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Climate Impact on Cardamom Production:**
* Kerala experienced a 19.93% decrease in cardamom production, from 22868 MT in 2023-24 to 18310 MT in 2024-25, due to adverse climate conditions.
* Plantations with proper shade, canopy size, and irrigation showed minimal damage.
* Preliminary crop assessment for the current year is ongoing.
* **SPICED Scheme Implementation:**
* The Spices Board is implementing the central sector scheme SPICED (Sustainability in Spice Sector through Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative Interventions for Export Development) from FY 2024-25.
* The scheme supports stakeholders of the spices sector across India, including Kerala.
* **Assistance to Cardamom Farmers under SPICED:**
* Programs include area expansion and replanting of cardamom.
* Support for production of quality planting materials.
* Assistance for constructing water harvesting and storage facilities.
* Support for installing irrigation equipment.
* **Post-Harvest Improvement Assistance:**
* Assistance for post-harvest improvements, including improved curing devices, graders, cleaners, and washing equipment.
* Aims to improve the quality of produce and facilitate better price realization for farmers.
* **Financial and Beneficiary Details (Kerala, 2024-25):**
* Replanting/New Planting: ₹272.14 lakhs, 2118 beneficiaries
* Planting Material Production: ₹25.33 lakhs, 195 beneficiaries
* Construction of Water Storage Structure: ₹17.7 lakhs, 58 beneficiaries
* Rainwater Harvesting Structure: ₹7.83 lakhs, 49 beneficiaries
* Irrigation Pump Set: ₹13.33 lakhs, 54 beneficiaries
* Micro Irrigation/Sprinkler/ICT Enabled Equipment: ₹9.21 lakhs, 17 beneficiaries
* Weather Based Insurance: ₹62.21 lakhs, 670 beneficiaries
* QGBG/Setting up of Post-Harvest Machines: ₹13.85 lakhs, 889 beneficiaries
* Spices Polishers: ₹8.46 lakhs, 31 beneficiaries
* Spice Cleaners/Graders/Spiral Gravity Separators: ₹1.32 lakhs, 3 beneficiaries
* Spice Washing Equipment: ₹15.31 lakhs, 29 beneficiaries
* Improved Curing Devices: ₹27.21 lakhs, 22 beneficiaries
* Care and Cure Centers for FPOs: ₹2 lakhs, 1 beneficiary
* QITP: ₹2.17 lakhs, 1133 beneficiaries
* Extension Advisory Services: ₹24.85 lakhs, 13 beneficiaries
Impact Analysis:
* **Spice Farmers (particularly Cardamom Growers in Kerala):**
* *Impact:* Benefit from assistance programs to mitigate losses due to climate-related issues, improve production through better resources and access to planting materials, and improve post-harvest practices for better price realization.
* *Action Required:* Participate in the SPICED scheme programs, utilize provided resources effectively, and adopt recommended practices for climate resilience.
* **Spices Board:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing and monitoring the SPICED scheme, providing support and resources to spice farmers, and ensuring the quality of spices for export.
* *Action Required:* Effectively manage and execute the SPICED scheme, conduct thorough crop assessments, and provide necessary guidance and resources to farmers.
Key Entities Referenced
Kerala: State in India where spice farmers, particularly cardamom growers, are facing production losses due to adverse climate conditions.
Cardamom: A spice crop significantly affected by adverse climate conditions in Kerala, leading to production losses.
Spices Board: An organization mandated with the Export Promotion of spices and quality evaluation of spices exported from India and production and research for cardamom.
SPICED: Sustainability in Spice Sector through Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative Interventions for Export Development. A central sector scheme implemented by the Spices Board from FY 2024-25 for the benefit of stakeholders in the spice sector across India, including Kerala.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmer welfare, overseeing departments and policies related to the sector.
Idukki: A district in Kerala where assistance under the SPICED Scheme is provided to spice farmers.
Wayanad: A district in Kerala where assistance under the SPICED Scheme is provided to spice farmers.
Palakkad: A district in Kerala where assistance under the SPICED Scheme is provided to spice farmers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3871
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12TH August, 2025
SPICE FARMERS IN KERALA
3871. ADV K. FRANCIS GEORGE:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS’ WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी be
pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that spice farmers in Kerala, particularly cardamom growers
in high range districts are facing significant production losses due to adverse climate conditions
such as prolonged heat waves, erratic rainfall and droughts;
(b) if so, the details of crop loss estimates and affected farmer numbers reported from Kerala in
the current and previous financial year;
(c) whether the Government has extended any special assistance packages, subsidies or
compensation to spice farmers affected by such climate-related crop failures; and
(d) if so, the details thereof including scheme-wise and district-wise allocation and utilisation?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b): Spices Board is mandated with the Export Promotion of spices and quality evaluation
of spices exported from India (53 scheduled spices and its products) & Research and
Development of Cardamom (Small & Large). The Board has mandate for production and research
for cardamom. As per the information provided by Spice Board due to adverse climate conditions,
there was a decrease of 19.93% in production of cardamom in Kerala state, from 22868 MT in
2023-24 to 18310 MT in 2024-25, as per the crop estimate for 2024-25. It has also been observed
that plantations with proper shade regulation, canopy size and irrigation facilities have survived
with minimal damage. Further, for the current year, the preliminary crop assessment for
cardamom is in progress.
(c) & (d): The Board is implementing the central sector scheme “Sustainability in Spice Sector
through Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative Interventions for Export Development
(SPICED)” from FY 2024-25, for the benefit of stakeholders of spices sector across India,
including the State of Kerala. Under the SPICED scheme various programs are implemented for
the cardamom farmers for, area expansion / replanting of cardamom, production of quality
planting materials of Cardamom for replanting / new planting, providing assistance for
constructing water harvesting /storage facilities and installation of irrigation equipment etc. Also,
with a view to facilitate realization of remunerative returns by the spice farmers, the Board is
providing assistance for post-harvest improvement of spices (including cardamom), which
includes support for purchase and installation of improved curing devices, graders, cleaners,
washing equipment etc. aimed at improving the quality of the produce, thereby facilitating better
price realization by the farmers. The details of assistance provided to Spice Farmers in Kerala
under the SPICED Scheme is attached as Annexure 1.Annexure 1: Details of Assistance provided to Spice Farmers in Kerala
Sl No Assistance extended under SPICED Scheme to spices farmers in Kerala during 2024-25
Name of programme IDUKKI WAYNADU PALAKKAD TOTAL
fin ben fin ben fin ben fin ben
1 Replanting/New Planting (Kerala & TN) 268.07 2093 1.02 7 3.05 18 272.14 2118
2 Planting Material Production (Small Cardamom) 24.51 187 0 0 0.82 8 25.33 195
3 Construction of Water Storage Structure (Small 17.7 58 0 0 0 0 17.7 58
cardamom)
4 Rainwater Harvesting Structure (Small cardamom) 7.83 49 0 0 0 0 7.83 49
5 Irrigation Pump Set (Small Cardamom) 13.03 53 0.3 1 0 0 13.33 54
6 Micro Irrigation/Sprinkler/ICT Enabled Equipment 9.21 17 0 0 0 0 9.21 17
(Small Cardamom)
7 Weather Based Insurance for Cardamom (small 62.21 670 0 0 0 0 62.21 670
cardamom)
8 QGBG-Setting up of Post-Harvest Machines 13.85 889 0 0 0 0 13.85 889
9 Spices Polishers 8.46 31 0 0 0 0 8.46 31
10 Spice Cleaners/Graders/Spiral Gravity Separators 1.32 3 0 0 0 0 1.32 3
11 Spice Washing Equipment 15.31 29 0 0 0 0 15.31 29
12 Improved Curing Devices for Small Cardamom 26.43 21 0 0 0.78 1 27.21 22
13 Care and Cure Centers for FPOs 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 1
14 QITP 2.09 1093 0 0 0.08 40 2.17 1133
15 Extension Advisory Services 24.85 13 0 0 0 0 24.85 13
Grand Total 483.02 4318 1.32 8 4.73 67 489.07 4393
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