Export Oriented Production: Large Cardamom Certified Nursery (Unit)

Key facts

Benefit	₹3 per seedling for GEN, ₹6.75 for SC/ST
Who	Farmers in Sikkim, West Bengal
How paid	Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
Implemented by	Spice Board, Ministry of Commerce
Official portal	commerce.gov.in
Application window	Open all year for application submission.

Benefits

Eligible beneficiaries receive a subsidy of ₹3 per seedling for the General category and ₹6.75 per seedling for SC/ST, based on production costs. Payments are made through Direct Benefit Transfer in the year following successful production.

Who can apply

For: farmer
Category: GEN, SC, ST
Resident of Sikkim / West Bengal
owns cultivable land
has savings bank account

Farmers from the General, SC, and ST categories residing in Sikkim and West Bengal can apply, provided they own cultivable land and have a savings bank account. Farmer groups must be a legal entity to qualify for assistance.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted offline to the relevant Field Offices in spice-growing regions.

Submit the application with required documents to the Field Office.
Provide additional documents if requested by the officer.
Ensure farmer groups are registered as a legal entity and execute an agreement with the Board.
Await preliminary inspection and conditional permit order from the officer.
Complete the activity and undergo final inspection for eligibility recommendation.

Apply on the official website ↗

Documents required

Parcha copy / Possession certificate
Aadhar card
Copy of SC/ST certificate (if applicable)
Copy of Bank Passbook
No Objection Certificate from panchayats if the Land is not in the beneficiary’s name.

Common problems and how to fix them

Problem	What to do
Application rejected	Ensure all required documents are submitted and eligibility criteria are met before application submission.
Payment not received	Check if the subsidy payment is scheduled for the succeeding year after satisfactory production of seedlings.

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for this scheme?

Individual farmers and farmer groups from Sikkim and West Bengal who meet the eligibility criteria can apply.

What documents are required for application?

Applicants need to provide a possession certificate, Aadhar card, SC/ST certificate (if applicable), bank passbook, and a No Objection Certificate if the land is not in their name.

How is the subsidy amount determined?

The subsidy is based on the production costs of seedlings, with different rates for General and SC/ST categories.

When will the subsidy payment be made?

Subsidy payments are made in the year following the successful production of seedlings in the nursery.

What is the maximum number of seedlings a beneficiary can apply for?

Beneficiaries can apply for a minimum of 1000 and a maximum of 5000 seedlings.

How is the application processed?

Applications are screened for eligibility, and additional documents may be requested before final inspections and recommendations.

Key terms explained

DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer): A system where the scheme amount is paid straight into the beneficiary’s bank account, with no middlemen handling the cash.
SC / ST / OBC: Official social categories — Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes — used for reservations and targeted welfare schemes.

Always confirm the latest details on the official portal before applying.