THENI:
Spices Board launched its second e-auction centre at Bodinayakanur, known as Cardamom city, to ensure remunerative prices to cardamom farmers.
Spices Board Chairman Dr A Jayathilak inaugurated the centre. MP Thanga Velu and Bodinayakanur Muncipality Chairman Palaniraj attended the function. The new auction centre, constructed on two acres of
land at the Board’s premises in Bodinayakanur, is equipped with all the modern facilities to assist the cardamom trade.
“Spices Board has revolutionized the auction system for small cardamom by introducing electronic auction, which has started benefiting cardamom growers. The first e-auction centre of the Board was set up at Puttady Spice Park, Kerala in 2011.” Dr A Jayathilak Chairman Spices Board informed.
Dr. Jayathilak said the e-auction had replaced the traditional ‘outcry’ system of auction of small cardamom and also provided increased transparency in trade. Since introduction of the e-auction, the small cardamom trade has grown manifold.
“The small cardamom production during 2015-16 was 22000 tonnes registering the highest production in India. The country exported 5,500 tons of small cardamom valued at Rs.450 crore during 2015-16, registering the highest export performance for small cardamom in the history of cardamom trade in India. Development and marketing interventions of Spices Board has led to the quantum increase in production and export of small cardamom.” he pointed out.
The Board chairman hoped that recent initiatives like the new e-auction centre, implementation of GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), judicious use of pesticides, application of bio-inputs and better grading would go a long way in assisting the cardamom industry and promoting consumption of the spice.
