The Secretary of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, visited Mayabunder and Rangat zones to review the implementation of the SPICE PRAVAH programme, aimed at boosting spice cultivation and farmer income across the Union Territory. The review was conducted in the presence of the Deputy Commissioner, North & Middle Andaman, and the Assistant Commissioner, Rangat, who issued directives to ensure timely coordination and implementation at the field level.
During the visit, the Secretary engaged with Gram Pradhans, PRI representatives, SHG members, and progressive farmers to identify challenges and seek solutions for enhancing programme effectiveness. Emphasizing the farmer-centric approach of SPICE PRAVAH, she called upon local leaders to act as change agents by supporting comprehensive farmer mapping and enrollment on the free online farmer registration portal. The portal provides benefits including marketing support, aggregation, and value-chain planning, strengthening the overall spice cultivation ecosystem in the territory.
So far, the programme has covered 103.5 hectares of spice plantations, benefiting approximately 700 farmers across the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The Secretary highlighted the importance of adopting scientific cultivation techniques, including intercropping spices with existing coconut and arecanut plantations. She stressed the role of structured market linkages and focused value addition in sustainably improving farmer incomes.
A key aspect of the programme is the establishment of Community Spice Gardens. The Secretary urged PRIs to identify suitable community lands for these clusters and assured that convergence with Rural Development schemes would facilitate the creation of infrastructure and scale-up of cultivation activities.
Addressing concerns related to fertiliser availability, the Secretary assured farmers that the issue would be resolved promptly. She advised judicious use of chemical fertilisers to protect health and prevent environmental degradation. The visit included field inspections of departmental farms as well as plots managed by progressive farmers participating in SPICE PRAVAH. These inspections allowed officials to assess the progress of spice plantations, explore potential expansion opportunities, and identify areas where cultivation and processing support can be strengthened.
The SPICE PRAVAH programme is part of the Administration’s broader strategy to enhance agricultural productivity, ensure sustainable livelihood options for farmers, and promote economic self-reliance in rural communities. By focusing on farmer mapping, structured market access, and community-led spice clusters, the programme seeks to create a robust value chain from cultivation to market, ensuring equitable benefits for participants.
The Secretary’s visit reflects the Administration’s ongoing commitment to supporting local farmers, encouraging adoption of modern cultivation practices, and leveraging community resources to improve productivity. Field feedback from the visit will inform future interventions and further strengthen the SPICE PRAVAH initiative across the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
