Ginger exporters eye markets in Japan

India is keen on exporting ginger to Japan, a market which is being served by China, Spices Board Chairman V J Kurien said on Wednesday.

Chinese Ginger is mainly exported to Japan with about 1,00,000 tonnes sent last year. "We will like to make inroads in this market, which is mainly organic," Kurien told reporters here.

India accounts for 44 per cent volume of international trade in spices and 36 per cent in value. The main spices that are being exported are chilli, ginger, cumin, cardamom, coriander and pepper. Of the total spices export, 75 per cent goes to the US and Europe.

On competition from Vietnam, Kurien said it was mainly in pepper and little in ginger. India has an advantage in the spices processing sector, he added.

The Board was planning to formulate standards in food safety in the coming years, he said. It is also in the process of releasing two new varieties of cardamom within the next six months.

Asked about the delay with regard to acquisition of land for the two proposed spice parks in Idukki district, Kurien said the Board would work with the state government to ensure that the parks were set up in Kerala and that it would not have to lose out to other states.

Union Minister of Commerce Jairam Ramesh had during his recent visit to Kerala stated that if the state government failed to take a decision on land for the parks by February-March, Kerala would be a loser and the spices parks would be shifted to some other state.