The government today said it would set up 10 spice parks across the country this year,to promote exports of spices from India. "Spice Board of India will establish 10 spice parks across the most strategic locations in the country by the end of 2012," an official statement said. It has also earmarked an investment of Rs 167 crore in these spices parks. Out of which Rs 75 crore have already been invested in three such parks in Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh (MP),Puttady in Kerela and Jodhpur in Rajasthan,it said. The other parks will be completed during the year in states like Andhra Pradesh,Tamil Nadu,MP and Kota in Rajasthan. Spice parks consists of units like processing,packaging and certification. The other parks will be completed during the year in states like Andhra Pradesh,Tamil Nadu,Madhya Pradesh and Kota in Rajasthan. The Board has completed the construction of Spice Park in Rampura Bhatia Village of Ozian Tehsil near Jodhpur in Rajasthan. The park has common infrastructure and processing facilities for the seed spices especially cumin and coriander. A public private partnership is ensured with 17 exporters to set up processing lines and also cold storage facilities. India has exported a total of 4,36,175 tonne of the spices,valued at Rs 7,849.47 crore during the April-January period of the last fiscal. The government has targetted 5 lakh tonnes of spice export during the period.
