Adulteration and under-invoicing of imported spices are rampant in Delhi, and police and customs raided premises of several importers during the week, according to sources.
According to market sources in Khari Baoli (Chandni Chowk), some were importing Chinese dry ginger after under invoicing, though the Centre had reduced the import duty to 35 per cent from 70 per cent. The police and customs are said to have taken samples of the imported material.
Trading sources in Delhi, Kochi and Bangalore told Business Line that Chinese ginger is fully peeled and dipped in a toxic solution to increase shelf life without infestation and to give it a good appearance. Indian ginger, on the other hand, is partially peeled and dipped in lime solution, which is not harmful for human consumption.
With the reduction in duty, Indian ginger is losing its position even in the domestic market, leaving Chinese, Ethiopean and Nigerian ginger to capture market share.
Now, health conscious consumers are looking for Indian ginger, especially the one produced in Kerala.
The stocks have been exhausted with the end of the season, said sources. The spices oils and oleoresin extraction units are importing ginger, especially from Ethiopia and Nigeria, reportedly at $700 to $800.
COCHIN GINGER
"Chinese ginger, which is peeled and looks clean and bold because it is dipped in some chemicals to preserve it from infestation, were imported at $1,500-$1,700 a tonne," said a source.
The ginger variety usually trades at a premium. But non-remunerative pricing after increase in imports has caused the disappearance of its cultivation, trading sources here said.
This unique variety - with its low fibre content, special aroma and pungency - is mainly grown in Kerala and the bordering States. The price of the ginger has now gone up almost three-folds due to short supply, they said.
On an average, Indian export of ginger was about 8 per cent of the domestic production.
India is the largest producer of ginger in the world with 3.91 lakh tonnes from 1,10,600 hectares in 2005-06, with an yield of 3,537 kg a hectare. But in terms of area, Nigeria and China are on top.
ADULTERATED CLOVES
Meanwhile, adulteration of imported cloves, which are allegedly of inferior quality, with spent cloves and stems obtained from extraction units has also come to the notice of the authorities in the capital. The officials are said to have seized samples of the commodity.
As the demand for cloves has started picking up with the festival season, "unscrupulous importers have started this kind of adulteration to make money at the cost of quality and health of consumers," an official source said.
Stems are dipped in a solution to make its colour black and then sprayed with clove essence/oil so as to give it the aroma, market sources said.
A good portion of the consignments of cloves coming from Sri Lanka are allegedly of poor quality with a lot of cloves powder, stems and unwanted particles. The concerned authorities concerned should meticulously check for quality of the product as it is brought in for human consumption in India, they said.
Ingredients
Cloves, pepper and poppy seeds are fast selling spices. In cloves, coloured stems and spent cloves are mixed, alleged the traders. In pepper, papaya seeds are processed and reportedly mixed, reducing the this reduces the cost heavily. Rava, rice powder are some white chemical powders are mixed in poppy seeds, they added.
When contacted A senior Spices Board source told Business Line that the board had not received any formal complaints in the matter and the Board would take appropriate action once the issue is brought before it.
Source : Business Line