The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Department of Commerce for continuation of Central Sector Scheme Export - Oriented Production, Export Development & Promotion of Spices of Spices Board in the 12th  Plan period i.e. 2012-13 to 2016-17 with some modifications as recommended by the Expenditure Finance Committee.

The projected outlay of the Scheme is Rs.670 crore during the five year period of the 12th Plan. Component wise and year-wise break up of outlay for 12th Five Year Plan is as under:

	Component	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17	TOTAL
1.	Export Oriented Production	48.50	55.82	58.75	59.92	63.01	286.00
2.	Export Development and Promotion	49.75	56.70	61.10	63.91	67.54	299.00
3.	Export Oriented Research	8.00	8.15	7.35	8.20	8.30	40.00
4.	Quality Improvement	10.04	7.06	6.07	6.24	5.59	35.00
5.	Human Resource Development & Works	1.00	2.90	2.05	1.95	2.10	10.00
	TOTAL	117.29	130.63	135.32	140.22	146.54	670.00

The main objective of the Scheme is to enhance spices export from the country by building processing capabilities, expansion of markets, increasing production and productivity of cardamom (small & large), modernising spice cultivation and post-harvest operations. This will attract youth to spices cultivation, promote organic cultivation, address food safety concerns of importing countries, market and productivity driven research, skill development, transfer of technology etc.  The scheme is also expected to achieve US dollars three billion of spices exports by the end of the 12th Five Year Plan.

Continuation of central sector scheme supports spices export promotion through processing capacity, market expansion and quality upgrades. Continuation of the Central Sector Scheme for export oriented production, export development and promotion of spices is approved for the 12th Five Year Plan with EFC recommended modifications and a projected outlay for the Plan period. The Scheme is structured into five components-Export Oriented Production; Export Development and Promotion; Export Oriented Research; Quality Improvement; and Human Resource Development & Works-aimed at building processing capacity, expanding markets, improving productivity and addressing food safety through research, skill development and technology transfer.