SINCE taking over as chairman of the Indian Spices Board in early July 2011, A Jayathilak, a former medico-turned Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer, has been able to maintain the high growth rate that Indian spice exports have demonstrated over the past six years. Moreover, the value of Indian spice exports for the financial year 2012/13 crossed the Rs100bn ($1.7m) mark for the first time. Dr Jayathilak recalled that 2012/13 had been the best-ever year for spices exports. "During the year ended March 31, 2013, India exported 699,170 tonnes of spices valued at Rs111.71bn, compared to 575,270 tonnes valued at Rs97.83bn in the previous year," he explained... Read More