The Spices Board of India has invited applications from eligible beneficiaries for financial assistance under various components of the SPICED Scheme for the financial year 2026-27. The Spices Board, functioning under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, is implementing the scheme titled “Sustainability in the Spice Sector through Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative Interventions for Export Development (SPICED)”. The scheme, which had originally been approved up to the financial year 2025-26 under the 15th Finance Commission cycle, has been extended until September 30, 2026, or until the approval of the proposed scheme under the 16th Finance Commission, whichever is earlier.
The SPICED Scheme aims to promote the expansion of cultivation areas and improve the productivity of small and large cardamom, enhance the production of quality export-oriented spices through post-harvest improvements, promote spice exports, increase the share of value-added spices in the export basket, ensure compliance with international quality and food safety standards, and strengthen capacity building and skill development among stakeholders.
Applications have been invited from eligible farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), exporters and other stakeholders in the spice sector for assistance under various programmes and components of the scheme.
The schemes for which assistance is available include:
Cardamom New Plantation and Replantation Scheme.
Cardamom Certified Nursery Scheme.
Construction of Water Storage Structures in cardamom plantations.
Purchase of irrigation pump sets for cardamom plantations.
Installation of sprinkler irrigation systems in cardamom plantations.
Establishment of post-harvest equipment banks for spice crops through FPOs.
Purchase of pepper peeling machines.
Purchase of polishers for spice crops.
Purchase of cleaning and grading machines.
Purchase of washing equipment for spice crops.
Purchase of tamarind peeling machines.
Purchase of tamarind seed removal machines.
Purchase of drying equipment for spice crops.
Purchase of improved cardamom curing (drying and processing) equipment.
Online submission of applications commenced on July 1, 2026.
Applicants are advised to carefully study the scheme guidelines before submitting their applications. Detailed guidelines for implementation of the SPICED Scheme are available on the Spices Board website.
The last date for submission of online applications is August 31, 2026. Applications received after the deadline or those that are incomplete will not be considered.
For further information and assistance, interested farmers and stakeholders may visit the Spices Board’s official website or contact the nearest Spices Board office, according to a release issued by the Board.
