New Delhi, July 03: Hit by competition from countries like Vietnam and stringent standard norms, spices exports from the country have declined 21 per cent in quantity terms and 11 per cent in value terms in April 2003-04. The exports saw a decline of 21 per cent in quantity terms at 15,378 tonnes in April 2003-04 as against 19,363 tonnes in April 2002-03.
In terms of value they came down by 11 per cent to Rs 115.68 crore as against Rs 130.43 crore in April, 2002-03, according to latest figures from the Spice Board.
Exports have fallen short of the target of April 2003-03 set by the government at Rs 190 crore in value terms and 251,030 tonnes in quantity terms.
The worst hit was cardamom small which saw a fall of 67 per cent in exports at 25 tonnes in April 2003-04 as against 75 tonnes in the same month last year.
Even in value terms the erosion was to the tune of 70 per cent from Rs 5.47 crore to Rs 1.62 crore in April 2002-03. Bureau Report