The Department of Agriculture, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, has introduced an online registration and doorstep collection facility for spices and honey under its Dweep Sugandh initiative, aimed at strengthening market access for local farmers and beekeepers. The facility will be available for a limited period and is designed to simplify procurement through a transparent and farmer-friendly mechanism.
According to the department, the initiative enables direct procurement of quality spices and honey from local producers at pre-fixed departmental rates, ensuring fair and remunerative prices while eliminating middlemen. The move is expected to benefit farmers, beekeepers and self-help groups engaged in spice cultivation and apiculture across the island territory.
Under the Dweep Sugandh initiative, the department will procure spices including black pepper, bay leaf (tejpatta), cinnamon quills, clove, mace and nutmeg, along with honey. The rates fixed by the department are ₹2,000 per kilogram for black pepper, ₹1,300 per kilogram for bay leaf, ₹2,000 per kilogram for cinnamon quills, ₹2,000 per kilogram for clove, ₹2,500 per kilogram for mace, ₹15 per nutmeg (per number), and ₹1,100 per kilogram for honey.
Officials said the procurement at departmental rates is intended to provide income stability to producers while encouraging quality production of spices and honey that are native or well-suited to the islands’ agro-climatic conditions. The initiative also aligns with efforts to promote branding and value recognition of island-grown produce.
Farmers, beekeepers and self-help groups involved in the production of spices and honey can register themselves through the department’s online portal. Registration under the scheme is currently free of cost. Once registration is completed successfully, the department will arrange for collection of the produce directly from the farmers’ doorstep, reducing logistical burdens and transportation costs for producers.
The department has urged eligible farmers and beekeepers across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to make use of the facility during the registration window to sell their produce through the official procurement mechanism. Officials noted that the online system is aimed at improving transparency, traceability and efficiency in the procurement process.
Interested farmers can register through the official portal at agri.andamannicobar.gov.in/farmer. For additional information or assistance, producers may contact the nearest sub-depot, the concerned zonal office, or the Kisan Call Centre at 03192-243434 or 1800-345-1145.
The Agriculture Department stated that the Dweep Sugandh initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen agricultural marketing infrastructure in the islands, support farmer incomes and promote locally produced spices and honey. By combining digital registration with doorstep collection, the department aims to bridge market access gaps faced by island farmers due to geographical isolation and high transportation costs.
Officials added that feedback from this procurement drive will help shape future interventions focused on direct farmer-market linkages and value addition for island agricultural produce.
