Two spice parks will be set up in Rajasthan in the near future to augment the marketing of its aromatic agriculture produce and promote the spices-related industry in the State.
One of them, a Rs.26-crore venture, is scheduled to come up in Jodhpur in March 2011. The second is to be set up in the coriander-rich Kota region's Ramganj Mandi.
Spices Board chairman Vijay Kurien announced the decision on the spice parks at a high-level meeting.
The meeting, attended by senior officials of the Union Commerce and Industry Ministry and the Rajasthan Government, was held to explore the possibility of setting up projects of the Department of Commerce. It was chaired by Rajasthan's Additional Chief Secretary S. Ahmad.
It was decided to increase Rajasthan's budget under ASIDE (Assistance to States for Development of Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities).
Shyam S. Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Commerce, said the budget under ASIDE for the Government of Rajasthan would be increased from the existing Rs.13 crore to 25 crore.