Inauguration of the 5th National Spice Conference (NSC) 2026, Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Jaipur, Rajasthan, Sept 20: The World Spice Organisation (WSO), the not-for-profit technical partner of the All-India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF), today inaugurated the 5th National Spice Conference (NSC) 2026 at the Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre, Rajasthan.
Held under the theme “Empowering Farmers, Protecting Consumers,” the two-day conference brings together farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), industry leaders, policymakers, regulators, researchers and other stakeholders to address key priorities across India’s spice value chain.
The conference commenced with the inauguration of the exhibition, followed by the inaugural session featuring Mr. Ramkumar Menon, Chairman, WSO; Shri M. S. Manivannan IAS, Secretary, Spices Board; Smt. Manju Rajpal IAS, Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Horticulture Department, Government of Rajasthan; and Mr. Ganapathy K D, Business Committee Chairman, NSC 2026.
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Ramkumar Menon, Chairman, WSO, said, “The future of India’s spice sector will depend on our ability to create greater value for farmers while ensuring that every product reaching the consumer meets the highest standards of safety and quality. Empowering farmers cannot be viewed in isolation from sustainability, responsible sourcing, traceability and market access. NSC 2026 provides an important platform for the entire value chain to come together, share solutions and build a more resilient and globally competitive spice sector.”
Commenting about the Conference, Mr. Manivannan MS, Secretary Spices Board said, “India’s spice sector is at an important juncture, where strengthening farmer livelihoods must go hand in hand with ensuring quality, food safety and market access. The Spices Board, through its various initiatives and schemes, continues to support stakeholders across the value chain in improving productivity, adopting better post-harvest practices, strengthening quality and safety standards, and meeting the requirements of domestic and international markets. A stronger focus on technology, capacity building and responsible practices will be essential to create greater value at the farm level and further strengthen India’s position as a trusted global source of spices.”
The first session, Farmer Empowerment & Income Growth, focused on strengthening farmer livelihoods and improving value realisation through better market linkages, access to technology and stronger integration across the value chain. The discussions then moved to Sustainability & Responsible Sourcing, highlighting the need for responsible production practices and stronger collaboration between farmers, FPOs, processors and buyers.
A key focus of the day was Food Safety & Consumer Protection, with discussions centred on pesticide residues, quality requirements and the need to strengthen food safety practices across the spice supply chain. Speakers also examined how greater awareness, testing capabilities and adoption of good agricultural and processing practices can help build consumer confidence and strengthen India’s position in global markets.
The conference also explored Innovation & Future Readiness, looking at emerging technologies and solutions that can support farm-level productivity, processing, traceability, testing and supply-chain efficiency.
Bringing the discussions back to the ground realities of cultivation, the day concluded with Farmer Challenges & Crop Outlook, providing a platform for farmers and FPO representatives to highlight challenges related to cultivation, post-harvest management, market access and changing market requirements.
Across the sessions, discussions highlighted the growing importance of post-harvest infrastructure, digital traceability, farm-level technologies, advanced testing, processing and warehousing in building a more efficient and sustainable spice ecosystem.
With participation from farmers, FPOs, processors, exporters, regulators, researchers, technology providers and other value-chain stakeholders, NSC 2026 reinforced the need for greater collaboration between the farm and the market to address both producer priorities and evolving consumer and global market requirements.
The conference will continue 20 September followed by sessions on Changing Regulations in Organic Farming & Certifications; the Role of FPOs in Consumer Protection and Food Safety; and Buyers’ Requirements. The second day will conclude with a dedicated Buyer–Seller Meet, aimed at strengthening market linkages and creating new opportunities for producers and buyers.