Sri Vijaya Puram, November 10: Farmers in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands can now access an essential oil distillation facility at a nominal charge of ₹100 per batch, following its launch as an incubation facility by the ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI). The initiative aims to expand income opportunities through value addition of spices and aromatic plants, allowing island stakeholders to process quality agricultural produce rather than depend solely on raw material sales.
The facility, established under the CSS-MIDH (NHM) Project on Spices, was formally declared an incubation facility on November 9 by Jai Sunder, Director (Acting) of ICAR-CIARI, during a farmers’ training programme. Interested farmers and other stakeholders can bring quality raw materials to the institute’s Bathu Basti campus for oil extraction at ₹100 per batch.
The announcement came during an exposure visit and training programme organised under the Khet Bachao Abhiyan on the theme of systematic cultivation and value addition in spice and plantation crops. The programme brought together 61 participants, including 40 women and 21 men, from nine villages of South Andaman.
The first session took place at the institute’s Horticulture Research Farm in Sippighat, where senior scientists Ajit Arun Waman and Pooja Bohra demonstrated scientific cinnamon harvesting using the Dweep CinnRub, mechanical coconut dehusking and the use of a coconut climbing device.
Participants also received demonstrations on coconut nursery management, improved varieties, plantation-based intercropping systems, harvesting and post-harvest management of spices. The programme introduced farmers to opportunities for integrating agriculture with tourism through agroecotourism.
During the second session, farmers visited the institute’s Field Distillation Unit, where scientists demonstrated essential oil extraction, packaging and applications. The institute also demonstrated grafting techniques for producing quality planting material in dioecious and perennial horticultural crops, alongside protected cultivation methods for woody pepper.
At the concluding session, Sunder urged participants to use the facility to explore income diversification through value addition technologies. Raj Narayan, Head of Horticulture, was also present during the declaration.
The programme was coordinated by T. Yaghambaram, Pradhan of Calicut; Ramya, PRI Member; Arokyasamy of DISHA-SURABI; and Baby Rani Biswas of ATMA, along with institute staff Ujjwal Kumar, Shyamlawathi, Dilip Kumar and Sandeep Kujur.
