In News: Recently, Spices Board India under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and UNDP India’s Accelerator Lab signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the aim to build a blockchain based traceability interface for Indian spices to enhance transparency in supply chain and trade.
About Spices Board
- Ministry: Ministry Commerce and Industry
- Spices Board was constituted on 26th February 1987 under the Spices Board Act 1986 (No. 10 of 1986) with the merger of the erstwhile Cardamom Board (1968) and Spices Export Promotion Council (1960).
- Spices Board is one of the five Commodity Boards functioning under the Ministry of Commerce &Industry.
- It is an autonomous body responsible for the export promotion of the 52 scheduled spices and development of Cardamom (Small & Large).
Main Functions
- Research, Development and Regulation of domestic marketing of Small & Large Cardamom
- Post-harvest improvement of all spices
- Promotion of organic production, processing and certification of spices
- Development of spices in the North East
- Provision of quality evaluation services
- Export promotion of all spices through support for:-
- Technology upgradation.
- Quality upgradation
- Brand promotion
- Research & product development
e-Spice Bazaar portal
- e-Spice Bazaar portal developed by Spices Board India for connecting spices farmers with markets.
- Under this Memorandum of Understanding, UNDP and Spices Board India are working towards integrating the Blockchain Traceability Interface with e-Spice Bazaar portal
- The design of the blockchain interface is expected to be completed by May 2021, and the project will be piloted with over 3,000 farmers engaged in chilli farming in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.
- This allows for ease and transparency in data management across a complex network, including farmers, brokers, distributors, processors, retailers, regulators, and consumers, thus simplifying the supply chain.
- This blockchain powered platform for Indian spices will enhance the quality assurance of agricultural export commodities.
UNDP
- UNDP was established in 1965 by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
- UNDP works across 170 countries and territories.
- To eradicate poverty while protecting the planet. We help countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships, and institutions so they can sustain their progress.
- UNDP has worked in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development, from systems strengthening to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods, as well as sustainable energy, environment, and resilience.
- UNDP’s programmes continue to integrate a global vision for catalytic change with India’s national priorities.
- With over 30 projects on the ground in almost every state, today, it works to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by transforming traditional models to do development differently.
Source: PIB
