From the Financial Express, good news about an effort by India's Spices Board "promote production of organic spices, even as far as the North East, involving the marginal farmers and weaker sections of the society..."
The Destitute Women’s Upliftment Society in Imphal has succeeded in getting export order for 40 tonne of organically-grown ginger. Board chairman CJ Jose said that three years ago the board initiated steps to promote the production of organic spices like ginger and turmeric in the North-Eastern region. It was lending support to several small farmer and women groups to grow spices organically. This would fetch the farmers a better margin. The board was also procuring spices directly from small farmers for its ‘Flavourit brand’, he added.The program's had its ups and downs -- traditional techniques for drying the spices weren't working in the area, so the board introduced new technology to make the process more productive, which kept prices up. It's great to see poor people in India finding some economic success through organic farming. I have no knowledge at all about the environmental impact of the spice trade -- can anyone comment on this?
Categories: organic, agriculture, spices, india
