KOZHIKODE: The ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research at Peruvannamuzhi, Kozhikode, being run by the central government, offers a chance for the entrepreneurs to process spices at its processing unit at lower rates and in a risk-free environment. Sanctioned in July last year, it is already offering the facilities to two of the local units at a nominal rate for two years.
The spice processing facility was set up at IISR’s experimental farm at Peruvannamuzhi during 2013-14 to encourage research and entrepreneurship development in spice processing for product and process development. This facility is meant to attract entrepreneurs in the spices sector by developing integrated processing capabilities, hand holding entrepreneurs, providing training and technical guidance on post harvest operations and quality maintenance of major spices.
The unit is equipped with state-of-the-art facility for primary as well as secondary processing of spices. The facility has three units each for cleaning and grading black pepper, curry powder production and white pepper production. It also has obtained the manufacturing licence from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India for commercial production of cleaned and graded black pepper, white pepper and spice powders.
The institute provides technical guidance and training to farmers and entrepreneurs in spice processing. Those wishing to make use of the facilities can contact IISR at itmu@spices.res.in or bpd.iisr@gmail.com or dial 0495 2731410.
