Spice exports: Value addition key to achieve targets

by Gamini Warushamana

B. Sarada M. De Silva.

Today most of our spice exports are in bulk form and the value addition is only around 20 percent. If we start to produce essential oil and oleoresin using our spices around 300 percent value addition is possible. For instance Intercom introduced cinnamon tablets using cinnamon pieces (grade 1 cinnamon) which are exported at US$2/kg and the tablets are sold at US$200/kg.

The value addition is over hundred times.

Last year, total spice exports was around Rs.17 billion (US$ 170 million) out of which cinnamon alone accounted for Rs.10 billion while cloves and pepper accounted for Rs.3.3 billion and 2.5 billion. This year the industry targets a Rs.20 billion export revenue. To achieve a Rs.100 billion revenue we have to increase our value addition by five times.

To start value addition, the industry needs a lot of incentives from the government.

Promotion of new value added products in our main markets is also costly and there should be a well-planned marketing strategy as well.

There should be a long-term policy framework for the sector.

These spices are not the only ingredients used in value added industries producing essential oils, oleoresin or perfumes. Some imported ingredients are needed as well.

For an uninterrupted operation of such industries and to maintain our existing markets we may need to import some spices. The policy framework should address these demands of the industry to attract investments locally or from foreign collaborators.

Also we should link this industry with the tourism industry and introduce spice dishes and aroma therapy in tourism.

Today the industry has faced issues in production and productivity. Production is limited due to various factors.

The land extent has to be increased,by small holdings as well as large plantations.

Production can also be increased by increasing productivity. For instance the average yield of cinnamon is around 450 kg/ hectare but some estates get 1250kg/hectare.

Therefore it is easy to increase the national average of cinnamon yield to around 750/hectare.

There is a huge global demand for cinnamon, cloves and pepper. Since this is considered as a

small-holder industry the productivity aspect has not yet been looked at.

In the cinnamon market Sri Lanka has the monopoly as we are the only producer of true cinnamon or Ceylon cinnamon.

cinnamon tablets introduced by Intercom Pix by: Kavinda Perera

This position is being challenged and India has started a pilot project to cultivate cinnamon.

We have not exploited the true potential of this industry. Exporters under cut prices and market bulk cinnamon at a lower price.

In this game some of our exporters have compromised quality and as a result poor, inferior quality cinnamon is exported.

Therefore it is high time Sri Lanka took steps to enforce quality standard for cinnamon exports.

High moisture content is the biggest issue in maintaining the quality of cinnamon and quality assurance should start at producer level.

We have only 30,000 hectares under cinnamon cultivation and the industry has faced issues due to the shortage of cinnamon peelers.

Normally cinnamon can be peeled two times a year. But due to the shortage of peelers most of the growers peel only once a year.

Therefore some sectors of the industry have to be mechanised.

The Spice Council, government and donor agencies have started some initiatives in this direction. We set up a HACCP and GMP certified model factory in Kosgoda three years ago.

In addition ten large scale cinnamon processing factories were set up with GTZ funds.

The Department of Export Agriculture has started a large number of small cinnamon processing factories.

Quality certification is also important.

USA demand ISO 2000 certification while EU countries demand HACCP certification. One of the important developments in the industry is that there are a large number of companies producing to meet these standards.

A cinnamon peeler can earn Rs.15,000-25,000 per month but they are considered at the lowest level of the social strata, similar to rubber tappers and tea pluckers.

Therefore the younger generation is not interested in engaging in this industry.

Our main markets for cinnamon are Mexico, USA, Colombia, Peru, Germany, UK and France.

Our pepper exports mainly go to India and it is also in bulk form while value addition is done in India. Sri Lankan pepper is also the best in the world with the highest piperine content. The Piperine content in our pepper is double compared to other products. Exporting pepper light berries is a crime.

Public-private partnership is essential to develop this sector. India provides the ideal example.

The Spice Board of India was set up in the 1980s and it is run by the Indian civil service with policy direction from the private sector.

The Spice Board has a fully-fledged laboratory that issues quality certificates and this facility significantly reduces the cost of obtaining quality certificates.

Ten years after the setting up of the Board, India became the world’s largest spice exporter.

The spice Council of Sri Lanka also has a good composition consisting of government officials, industry experts and business persons.

However, we are slow in achieving our goals as there are bureaucratic bottlenecks.