FAO in collaborationwith the Spices Board India, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) organised the annual Project Steering Committee Meeting on February 24, 2023 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Participants included representatives from the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) of the World Trade Organization (WTO); FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, and members of the Project Steering Committee. The meeting was conducted to review the project's progress and obtain feedback from the Project Steering Committee members on the overall implementation of the activities, any challenges, and how to address them in the selected geography.

The project focuses on the production of exportable surplus of spices such as Cumin, Fennel, Coriander and Black Pepper, by addressing Sanitary and Phytosanitary Issues (SPS) in selected production hubs of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Further, the project is introducing an electronic system of linking farmers to exporters, thereby improving traceability through certification to ensure the credibility of these products.

The inaugural session included remarks by Shri D. Sathiyan, IFS, Secretary, Spices Board; Mr. Pablo Jakins, Economic Affairs Officer, STDF Secretariat; Dr Sridhar Dharmapuri, Senior Food Safety and Nutrition Officer, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific; and Dr Konda Reddy Chavva, Officer-In-Charge, FAO Representation in India. This was followed by a review session, conducted by Mr Vinay Singh, National Project Manager and Food Security & Nutrition Expert at FAO India, involving discussion on project’s progress, and challenges and strategies adopted to address the implementation issues.