K700mil potential seen in hot spice industry

THE spice industry has the potential to contribute to government revenue if there is sufficient government support, according to an official.
Sakarias Ikio, the director of the PNG Spice Industry Development Programme, said the industry needed to be tapped for its economic potential.
“The industry is valued at between K500 million and K700 million and spices are produced all year around. The production is high,” Ikio said.
The spices include turmeric, ginger, cardamom, chili, onion and garlic.
“If we can develop pepper and mint, they can cater for the people and we can export to overseas markets.”
At the moment they have 200 farmers in Eastern Highlands.
“We (germinate in the nursery) the seeds and give them to the farmers to plant so that they are multiplied,” he said.
“The products are sold back to us. We buy it at a lower rate and then sell it to the supermarkets.
“This is done so that the industry can grow.”
They started processing spices at their mini processing facility last year at Masumave village in the Unggai Local Level Government.
“We are processing at a very small scale and distributing to the supermarkets in town, hotels and restaurants,” he said.
“We are targeting to establish 25,000 smallholder farmers by year 2030.
“We are expecting to reach production volume of more than 12,000 tons of processed mixed spices that can generate more than K480 million from exports while stabilising imports in the country.
“Our employment target will reach 400 by 2022 and 6000 by 2030.”