Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam officials are pushing for a formal deal with Spices Board India. The partnership aims to overhaul the state spice sector. Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota met with Spices Board Secretary M S Manivannan to map out the strategy.
The state currently covers 1.08 lakh hectares in spice cultivation. Production hit 4.06 lakh metric tonnes for the 2024-25 cycle. Farmers primarily grow ginger, turmeric, chilli, black pepper, garlic, and coriander.
Kota wants a signed Memorandum of Understanding to lock in technical help and market development. The government plans to identify specific regions for specialized spice clusters. They also discussed introducing large cardamom into the local crop cycle. Leveraging Northeast regional expertise in harvest management remains a priority.
The deal targets the full value chain, not just raw output. Officials expect this to drive crop diversification and boost entrepreneurship. Kota said, "The government was considering an MoU with the Spices Board to create a sustained framework for technical cooperation, crop and region identification, capacity building, processing, value addition and market development." Better agriculture returns remain the core objective.
Updated at 18th August 2026 at 2:00pm
The proposed deal represents a pivot toward a long-term institutional partnership. Officials intend for this alliance to create an enduring framework that secures technical support well beyond initial project implementation.
The move marks a shift in policy, pushing to expand the state spice economy by integrating high-value farming practices directly into the local production model.
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