Abstract: India’s reputation as the “Land of Spices” stems from its extensive history of cultivating and exporting a diverse range of aromatic and medicinal crops, including turmeric, ginger, chilli, cardamom, and black pepper. This review paper explores the multidimensional structure of the Indian spice sector by analyzing farming practices, marketing mechanisms, and export constraints, with a special focus on challenges and solutions within the domestic and international contexts. Drawing from the foundational study conducted in Uttarakhand and supplemented by national-level data, the paper presents an integrated analysis of the upstream (farming and cultivation) and downstream (marketing and trade) segments of the spice value chain. The review highlights that spice cultivation in India remains dominated by smallholder farmers who use traditional techniques, resulting in low productivity and quality variability. While modern interventions, such as the adoption of high-yielding varieties, organic certification, and climate-resilient practices, are emerging, their adoption remains limited due to knowledge and infrastructure gaps. From a marketing perspective, the paper identifies the dominance of middlemen, weak market linkages, underdeveloped mandi infrastructure, and lack of access to real-time pricing information as major barriers that prevent farmers from securing fair prices. Export challenges include high rejection rates due to quality non-compliance (e.g., pesticide residues and aflatoxins), insufficient branding, and global competition from countries with more advanced spice processing ecosystems. Despite India’s status as the largest global producer and exporter by volume, its presence in premium, value-added segments is limited. However, increasing global demand for organic and geographically indicated (GI) spices offers new growth avenues. The paper evaluates the role of government initiatives like MIDH, NHB, and the Spices Board’s schemes in addressing these gaps and provides region-specific recommendations for holistic sector development. The findings call for a value-chain-based approach to reform, focusing on integrated spice parks, digital traceability, climate-smart agriculture, and enhanced farmer-exporter linkages. By addressing production inefficiencies, enhancing infrastructure, and promoting strategic branding, India can significantly strengthen its position in the global spice trade and ensure sustainable livelihoods for its farmers.
Keywords: Cultivation, Marketing, Certification, Value-chain, Sustainable
Author: Muskan, Garvita Jaiswal, Adtiya Kumar and Devendra Chaudhary
doi: https://doie.org/10.10346/AE.2025768207
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