The spices board is chalking out plans to enhance the cultivation of certain spices that have been neglected so far. The spices include mint, chilli, cumin, coriander, fennel and saffron.

Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said that the government is planning to give due recognition to states contributing to exports of these spices.

"It is a fact that these commodities had been neglected so far, though their contributions to the total export earnings were at around 53 per cent," Ramesh told reporters.

He said among the spices the share of mint is 30 per cent and 80 per cent of it is cultivated in Uttar Pradesh.

"The Spices Board's focus would be increasingly towards North-East, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan," he said.

He said in order to increase production and productivity, pepper in 50,000 hectares and cardamom in 25,000 ha would be replanted with Central assistance and it is expected to begin by October 2007.

The minister said all the formalities on the proposed spices park in Kerala's Idukki district had been completed. About 100 acres of land in Nedumkandam in the district has been identified for a pre-processing centre while another 100 acres in Thodupuzha taluk for value addition units.