Pepper value-addition facility goes onstream

PUTTADY (IDUKKI): Exports of value-added pepper and cardamom may see a jump in the coming years with the first major facility for enhancing the value of these spices going on stream in Idukki district.

The Spices Park for processing pepper and cardamom is the first such major facility in the country. A steam sterilisation unit is proposed to be set up for sterilising pepper and pepper products to reduce microbial loads and accelerating value-addition efforts. “At present, the level of value-addition in spice exports is around 60%.

This could be easily increased with the facilities in the Spices Park,” Dr J Thomas, director (research) of Spices Board, said. A white pepper processing unit will also be set up in the park.

Thomas said the board may rent the facilities in the park to traders and processors or could entrust it to company. The board has created Flavourit Spice Trading for marketing its Flavourit brand of spices launched a few years ago. The board is considering the revival of the company which is now dormant.