E-Auction of Cardamom in Bodinayakanur was introduced by Apices Board in August 2007. The inauguration was undertaken in Theni Dist, Tamilnadu. There are 40 buyer terminals in this e-Auction but the second e-Auction center has 60 terminals that were introduced in Vandanmettu, Idukki, Kerala in December 2007. The first e-auction center was established at Puttady Spice Park, Kerala in 2011, and the second e-auction center was launched by Spice Board at Bodinayakanur that is also known as Cardamom city.
It was an outstanding achievement that the e-Auction got more fame among the people than the traditional outcry auctions of Cardamom in Kerala and Tamilnadu. It was a new term that all the licensed dealers were asked to show themselves by their identity by the given user id and password. This system was more safe and reliable than the previous one. If the dealers want to participate in the auction, they will log into the system by using their user id and password. By using a normal computer keyboard, one can make a bid with key depressions.
It is a safe method because the identity of the bidders is guarded by using the auction process so there is no problem with the identity collision. The name of the highest bidder is to be displayed on the Masters terminal only due to security reasons. Security is the foremost responsibility of the e-Auction. There is also the main display board to display lot no, quantity, number of bags, and all other necessary records of the specific time that are kept in the Auction. The system has earned a name in the market and both the centers are working successfully.
E-Auction Centre
The first floor of the administrative building is used for the Auction center. It is a full-fledged electronic center for Cardamom that has been established by the board. The area of 600 square meters is fixed for the hall and the auction has a higher-end server having 60 bidder terminals but they can be extended to the 100 bidder terminals.
Warehousing Facilities
Raw material and finished products of Cardamom and Pepper are kept in a warehouse that is consisted of 5 members. Cardamom and Black pepper have two Gowdown with an area of 804 and 600 square meters. There is also 600 square meters area for Cardamom and Black pepper only for the finished products. One Puf Gowdown is there as well in the park for Cardamom having an area of 583 sq. meters.
Processing Facilities for Cardamom
Cardamom has a 2 ton per hour capacity plant that is installed by the Board with pre-cleaning, grading, sorting, weighing, and packing of dried whole Cardamom. The process of grading is based on the size and color of Cardamom.
There is also a processing plant of Black pepper that has been established by the help of the Board. The plant has a pre-cleaning capacity of 24 tons per day. Aspiration, gravity, separation, magnetic separation, and Vaccum de-stoner mechanisms are some of the processes that are used to dry the Black Pepper. This plant can crack and grind the Black Pepper with a capacity of 500 kg per hour.
Spice Park- Puttady
The Spice Park at Puttady means for Cardamom and Pepper that is developed in the area of 10 acres in the Idukki District of Kerala. The right location of the park is in the Kumily. There is also a famous Kattapana State Highway 16 km away from Kumily and 12 km away from Kattappana. It is developed with all the facilities like internal road, drainage, water supply, power station, common generator, rainwater harvesting, and restaurants, etc. all these facilities are established in the park for the people.
The Board works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India so the Board is a statutory body. This is a successful and authentic organization to control the production of spices in India. It has to regulate the domestic marketing of small and large Cardamom. All the auctions that are conducted through the Spices Board are governed by the Board. No producer can sell his products without a licensed auctioneer so the auctioneer has to purchase the Cardamom from the planters to bring it for auction again. The board is an expert body and all the decisions are taken by the expert body.
Other Facilities
- Union Bank of India provides a full-fledged banking facility and 24 ATM service in the Spice Park campus. This is only to facilitate the people.
- Business center has also been set for carrying out meetings related to all the activities to Spices Park.
- There is 2 stories administrative building with the area of 1200 square meter.
- A two stories building is also there with the area of 500 square meters that is the sales counter of M/s FSTL.
- 460 square meters building that is for the restaurant is also set by the Board with all modern facilities within the Park.
- A guest house and power station are also established. The guest house has an area of 577 square meters with 6-bed rooms, a dining hall, and kitchen facilities.
- Safety of the people is more important so the Board has set up fire fighting systems at Spice Park.
One important thing is also here to be discussed that the Kerala government has declared Puttady a COVID-19 red zone area. The e-auction now should be arranged at Bodinaickanur in the interest of growers.
Weighing bridge, forklift, pallet truck, and plastic pallets are there to facilitate you because your safety and satisfaction are the most important factors. A sterilization unit is also there with a capacity of 250 kg per hour and a drying yard with an area of 3000 square meters. The main aim is to provide you best and pure things to use with all the necessary items of routine life.
Address of e-Auction Centres are:
Common e-Auction Centre, Spices Board Puttady, Idukki-685551, Kerala
Phone: 04868-288371
E. Mail: eauctionsb@gmail.com
Common e-Auction Centre, Spices Board Kurangani road, Bodinayikanur, Theni- 625513, Tamilnadu
Phone: 04546-280238