Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India — Special Service and Features · PIB Thiruvananthpuram · Read the original release on pib.gov.in
Kochi, 8 October 2026: Spices Board India, in association with ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), will organise a seminar on ‘Bharat Spice Map: Mapping India’s Spice Diversity for Self-Reliance and Global Markets’ on 9 October 2026, as part of the Reform Utsav, to initiate discussions on developing a comprehensive national map of India’s spice diversity.
The Bharat Spice Map is envisaged as an initiative to address critical information gaps in the spice supply chain by systematically mapping the region-wise availability of major spice crops, along with their variety and intrinsic quality attributes to support value addition and exports. The initiative seeks to create a comprehensive knowledge base for identifying spice varieties and production regions with quality attributes suited to the evolving requirements of global markets.
The programme will be inaugurated by Shri Gyanendra D. Tripathi, IAS, Additional Secretary (DARE) & Secretary (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, at Hotel Monsoon Empress, Palarivattom, Kochi. Shri M. S. Manivannan, IAS, Secretary, Spices Board and Adv. Sangeetha Viswanathan, Chairperson, Spices Board will be among the distinguished guests at the occasion.
The brainstorming session will bring together exporters, policymakers, agricultural scientists, researchers and other stakeholders to deliberate on the scope, methodology and key components of the proposed project. The discussions are expected to help identify information gaps, technical requirements and areas of collaboration that need to be addressed in developing the Bharat Spice Map.
By systematically linking spice-growing regions and varieties with their intrinsic quality characteristics, the initiative is expected to create a valuable foundation for strengthening India’s export competitiveness through value addition. The resulting knowledge base could help identify and promote specific Indian spice varieties and production regions that are best suited to the industry’s sourcing requirements for value addition aiming at various international markets, thereby enabling targeted export promotion and stronger market positioning for Indian spices.
The proposed mapping is also expected to contribute to the objective of self-reliance in the spice sector by providing greater visibility of domestic production and sourcing potential for exports. A comprehensive database can help identify suitable domestic sources for different spices and varieties and support efforts to reduce reliance on imported spices through targeted interventions and better utilisation of domestic resources.
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This is an official press release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), reproduced as issued.
