KOCHI: Kerala’s tribals are now exporting spices to foreign shores. This is what government’s tribal empowerment programme has achieved in a few years’ efforts.
In a rare move, the tribals in the Periyar Tiger Reserve will export four tonnes of pepper produced in the reserve forest through organic farming to Germany soon.
According to forest officials, a deal to this effect has been signed between the Eco Development Committee of Periyar, under the State Forest Department, and Ecoland Herbs and Spices of Germany.
The export will fetch 33 per cent more price for the pepper, according to forest department officials.
The pepper to be exported was produced in the tribal settlements of Mannakudi, Puliakudy and Mannan and in the tribal hamlet of Vanchivayal under the Vallakkadavu forest range.
Periyar Foundation, the apex body of eco development committees in the tiger reserve, has received the quality certification for export of farm products from an organic certifying agency in Germany and the import-export code from the joint director of exports in Kochi.
This is for the first time in the country that a farm produce from tribal settlements is being directly exported to overseas markets.
Officials said the forest department, in association with Periyar Foundation, would market ginger and turmeric, apart from pepper, produced in the region by keeping the middlemen away.
In a rare move, the tribals in the Periyar Tiger Reserve will export four tonnes of pepper produced in the reserve forest through organic farming to Germany soon.
According to forest officials, a deal to this effect has been signed between the Eco Development Committee of Periyar, under the State Forest Department, and Ecoland Herbs and Spices of Germany.
The export will fetch 33 per cent more price for the pepper, according to forest department officials.
The pepper to be exported was produced in the tribal settlements of Mannakudi, Puliakudy and Mannan and in the tribal hamlet of Vanchivayal under the Vallakkadavu forest range.
Periyar Foundation, the apex body of eco development committees in the tiger reserve, has received the quality certification for export of farm products from an organic certifying agency in Germany and the import-export code from the joint director of exports in Kochi.
This is for the first time in the country that a farm produce from tribal settlements is being directly exported to overseas markets.
Officials said the forest department, in association with Periyar Foundation, would market ginger and turmeric, apart from pepper, produced in the region by keeping the middlemen away.
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