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Spices EXTERNAL SECTOR

6.16 In the period 2013-14, a total of 817250 MT of spices and spice products valued at ` 13735.4
Crore has been exported from India, as against 726613 MT with a value of ` 12112.8 Crore in 2012-
13. This shows an increase of 12 per cent in volume and 13 per cent in value. The total export of
spices during 2013-14 has exceeded the target in terms of both quantity and value.

6.17 Export of spices from Kerala (through Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram Ports) increased to
81412.6 MT valued at ` 3253.4 Crore from 79435 MT with a value of ` 2802.7 Crore during 2012-
13. Exports increased by 2.5 per cent and value by 16 per cent. Pepper, cardamom, chili, ginger,
turmeric, coriander, cumin, celery, fennel, fenugreek, other seed spices, garlic, tamarind, nutmeg
and maize, other miscellaneous spices, curry powder/mixture, spice oils and oleoresins and mint
products are the main items of exports through Kerala Ports.

Section 2
Non Resident Keralites

6.18 Government is very keen about the wellbeing of Non-Resident Keralites due to their role and
contribution to the prosperity of state economy. Kerala Migration Survey 2011 conducted by Centre
for Development Studies estimated that there are more than 22.33 lakh Malayalis are living in various
countries and their remittances to the state gross domestic product is more than 22 %. The Non-
Resident Malayali Census 2013 of Economics and Statistics Department, Government of Kerala,
claimed that there are only 16.25 lakh Non-Resident Malayalis in the State. Out of the 16.25 lakh Non-
Resident Malayalis, 14.26 are employed abroad. Around 50 lakh people in Kerala are dependent on
Non Resident Malayalis. Country wise, 90 % of Non-Resident Malayalis are working in Gulf region.
The current development in the labour front in Saudi Arabia has resulted in large scale return of Non-
Resident Keralites (NRKs).Report on a Survey of Return Emigrants in Kerala 2013 found that the
changes that have been taking place during the post global crisis period in the economy and labour
market in the Gulf countries are the principal reasons for large scale return of emigrants to Kerala.

Fig 6.2
District Wise Proportion of NRKs in Kerala

Source: Economic and Statistics Department,GoK

Economic Review 2014