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Article: Covid-19 consequences for Indian spice industry
30 July 2020
India is complex, with 1.3 billion inhabitants on 3.28 million
sq kilometres. It is administered as a federal state, with 29
states and seven special territories, people following around 30
religious affiliations and speaking some two dozen languages, using
Hindi and English as lingua franca.
The country has been working to combine economic development and
a parliamentary democracy since its independence from the UK in
1947, suffering periodic social and religious conflicts, and
developing prosperous and developed centres in Bangalore, Delhi or
Mumbai, with extremely poor areas, especially in the North.
India has a key role in South Asia. It is a key importer for its
neighbouring countries (Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka) and
the Middle East; an essential investor in East and West Africa
where its cashew and oilseed processing industries are drivers of
growth; and an important exporter of agricultural and technological
products.
Spices are a common element for the Indian nation: at the core
of its commercial history, traditional medicine and cuisine and
rural economy.
India grows around 30 products considered as spices. The largest
crops are garlic, ginger, chilli, turmeric, cumin seeds and
coriander seeds (updated data in figure 1), accounting for around
70% of the volume and acreage.
The 2018-19 spice output is estimated at 9.19 mln tonnes on 9.6
mln hectares, according to the Spices Board of India (SBI).
However, its consumption exceeds production . As a key global
supplier, its exports totalled around USD1.5 billion and its total
revenues are around USD3.0 bln.
