Farmer-Scientist-Industry Interface has called upon farmer-producer organisations (FPOs) to enhance production capabilities and prioritise quality. The industry is ready to absorb more products, provided they meet quality standards consistently over the long term, experts noted at the concluding session of National Symposium on Spices and Aromatic Crops (SYMSAC XI) at the Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode.

They emphasised the need for better guidance, improved technologies, and stronger farmer-industry linkages to ensure sustainable growth for the spice sector in India.

The interface focused on the growing gap between spice production and market demand. While India’s annual production of black pepper stands at 77,000 tonnes, studies by the Spices Board reveal that the country requires around 130,000 tonnes to meet domestic and global demand. While the market is open to accepting quality products, experts noted that increasing production remains a major challenge.

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The discussions highlighted the importance of FPOs in driving the production of spices.

The panellists stressed that FPOs should need to focus more on scaling up production to bridge the gap. They also emphasised the need for better data collection on crop yields to ensure accurate projections of national production figures.

There were discussions on the need to focus on small-scale farmers, who often face challenges in accessing market opportunities due to a lack of industry linkages. Experts highlighted that improving production methods and providing better market access could empower these farmers.

Another key takeaway in the session was the need for stronger collaboration between the spice industry and research institutes.