'State not properly represented in Spices Board'

Addressing a press meet, he said the Government has failed to provide complete details on the growers to Spices Board. “The Board does not have any details on the spices grown in the State since 2004,” he lamented.

According to the available information with the Board, about 12,000 tonnes of spices are produced in 15,000 hectare land in the State. However, the information is not correct. Coffee is grown in 2.39 lakh hectare land, arecanut in 1.40 lakh hectare land, coconut in 80 lakh hectare land. Pepper and cardamom are grown between all these crops in the State. In Kerala, 33,000 tonne spices are grown in 2.14 lakh hectare land. As a result, special projects have been chalked out for its promotion. Owing to the lack of information provided by the State, no special schemes have been given to the State.

There is one Spice Board office to five taluks including Koppa, Sringeri, N R Pura, Mudigere and Theerthahalli. Owing to the lack of information about the growers, the spices board office can not be extended.

He called upon the growers to provide details on spices grown by them in the title deeds to avail more facilities.