In Vidarbha, the wholesale market for spices is bustling, providing employment to thousands of hands. Currently, there are around 50 different brands in the market. Allegations have been made by the Nag Vidarbha Chamber of Commerce (NVCC) that a conspiracy to defame this industry is underway by foreign powers observing the demand for the Indian spice industry.
Both domestically and internationally, consumers have placed their trust in Indian spices, leading to a significant increase in sales. However, foreign companies, grappling with their own crises, are resorting to various tactics to tarnish the industry’s reputation. Particularly, amidst the substantial global traction received by Indian spice and food exports, China has been actively promoting false narratives. Past instances include some countries imposing bans on mustard oil and raising doubts about the quality of Indian rice, dairy products, vegetables, and spices. With regular inspections by the FSSAI, consumers are increasingly placing their trust in our products, and endorsements are also being sought by marketers.
In the international market, efforts are being made to tarnish the reputation of Indian spices to the extent of staining India’s image similar to countries like China. Despite the significant traction received by Indian spice exports, the government also faces major challenges due to various accusations. Consequently, many countries suffer, leading to the propagation of allegations against Indian spices abroad, as claimed by NVCC Chairman Arjundas Ahuja. Vice Chairman Farukh Akbani also asserted that foreign powers might be behind such defamation campaigns. At this juncture, Secretary Shabbar Shaikh, Rajvantpal Singh Tuli, Deepak Agrawal, and Public Relations Officer Hemant Sarada have refuted all allegations made against Indian spices.