India, since the beginning of civilisation attracted spice traders from all parts of the world. India for the rest of the world has been the most favourite destination for the magic of spices. In search of Indian spices Columbus sailed to land himself in the United States of America but Vasco De Gama had no mistake and found the land of spices when history was created at Kozhikode Beach during 1498. The Dutch, Persians, Arabs, Jews, the French, Portuguese and finally the British were involved in their fights to grab a major share of Indian spices which later made history, a history of this great country, India. It was in the historical city of Kozhikode where MARKETFED was born in the co-operative sector to help the farming community of this vibrant state enriched with varieties of cash crops including spices.

Spices are sweet smelling, sharp-tasting substances used for flavouring and are the main ingredients for any tasty food. The use of spices have been steadily increasing all over the world due to increasing inhabitation of Indian community in developed countries and newly developed taste for Indian delicacies. Apart from whole spices, India exports lot of ground and ready to use spices too and India is emerging as a major exporter of spices in the world. India has been the world's most favourite spice land since the beginning of civilisation. Kerala produces the best spices available in the world market today and earns huge foreign exchange by regularly exporting different spices to the international markets.

Kerala Marketfed has an important role in the trade of spices. The State of Kerala, in the extreme south West of India, lies exactly in the trading route between Europe and the far Pacific, bounded by the Arabian Sea and a luxuriantly wooded chain of mountains, the Western and the Eastern Ghats, this area with its exuberant tropical vegetation and with 41 rivers and imposing waterfalls is truly awe-inspiring in its stark grandeur.
     

The annual production of Black Pepper in India comes about 65000 MT of which Kerala accounted for 90%. Marketfed entered the filed of pepper marketing in the year 1963-64 and achieved a major market share of pepper by 1979. Breaking boundaries of market, Marketfed leaped into export market during 1976, and maintained its market share sowing steady progress.
Government of India selected Marketfed as the top most exporter of Black Pepper for the year 1979-80 and was an award winner. During the year 1985-86 we have purchased 5300 tones of Pepper for Rs. 2240 lakhs and sold 4639 tons for Rs. 2178 lakhs of which export accounts for about 2000 tons valued at Rs. 1050 lakhs.

During 1992-93 we sold 257 MT valuing Rs. 70 lakhs, 1993-94 1324 MT valuing Rs. 594 lakhs, 1994-95 582 MT valuing Rs. 337 lakhs and 1995-96 337 MT valuing Rs. 282 lakhs.

When the market price of Pepper approached to x-axis say about Rs. 24 kg, the growers could not meet even their production cost. Government of India had fixed the minimum price as Rs. 32 per kg. and entrusted Marketfed to procure maximum quantity of Pepper from the growers through the Marketing Cooperatives. Marketfed when procured about 300 MT from the farmers and the price of pepper went up to Rs. 99/- per kg..
   

Trade enquiries are solicited from genuine and prosperous buyers of domestic and international markets.