India plans to launch electronic auction of spices by July this year as part of efforts by the Spices Board to make the country a global hub for processing and marketing of spices.
Spices Board chairman V J Kurien told reporters on Thursday that by June-July this year, electronic auctions in spices like cardamom and pepper will begin.
" To start with, the e-auction would commence at Bodinaickanur in Tamil Nadu in cardamom," Kurien said.
In world spices trade, India now controls 44 percent and in value terms it works out to 35 per cent, the spices board chairman pointed out.
Saying that efforts are on to make India a spices processing hub by 2012, Kurien there are plans to start spices parks at 10 places in the country, including Idukki in Kerala, Guntur in Andhra Pradesh and in Madhya Pradesh.
The Board is also planning to come up with a "Vision Document" within three to four months. Discussions in this regard are on with Spices exporters, Kurien said.
The World Spices Congress, being held every two years, would be held at Goa from 28-30 January, he added.