Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 31: Technologies and improved varieties developed for spice cultivation at ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI), Sri Vijaya Puram, were presented to researchers, farmers, industry representatives and other stakeholders at a national conference in Maharashtra, highlighting the potential reach of research emerging from the islands.
The National Conference on Innovative Technologies for Sustainable Development of Tree Spices was held at Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, on August 24 and 25, 2026. The conference brought together researchers, academicians, industry representatives, farmers, entrepreneurs and students to exchange knowledge and ideas on spices.
CIARI was invited to participate in the conference in view of its research work on various spice crops. Ajit Arun Waman, Senior Scientist at ICAR-CIARI, joined the event’s National Advisory Committee and delivered a lead talk on scientific interventions in perennial spices from the tropical Bay Islands.
Waman presented CIARI’s research achievements, including improved varieties and germplasm. These included woody pepper germplasm INGR25029, Dweep Tej 1, described as the country’s first Indian bay leaf variety, improved Malabar tamarind varieties Dweep Agrim and Dweep Vishal, and elite cinnamon accessions.
He also outlined crop improvement and pre-breeding methods developed at CIARI for cinnamon and tejpat, alongside technologies covering spice-based cropping systems and propagation techniques for cinnamon, woody pepper and tejpat.
The presentation also covered Dweep Goottee 365, a round-the-year propagation approach for perennial spices, and protected cultivation of woody pepper. Waman urged universities and institutes involved in spice nursery raising to use coir-based substrates identified by CIARI to support sustainability.
CIARI’s Dweep CinnRub, a cinnamon bark rubbing tool, featured in the conference exhibition and was demonstrated for delegates and attendees. The tool was also shared with Sanjay Bhave, Vice Chancellor of Dr. B.S.K.K.V., Dapoli, who appreciated its role in reducing the drudgery associated with cinnamon harvesting.
The technology has been licensed to a young entrepreneur from the islands for commercialisation. It was also demonstrated to cinnamon harvesters at the university farm.
Delegates and university faculty expressed interest in the technologies and said they could benefit spice stakeholders in their respective regions.
On August 26, Waman separately guided more than 150 graduate, postgraduate and doctorate students on preparing for competitive examinations in agriculture.
Jai Sunder, Director (A), ICAR-CIARI, said the institute was pleased that technologies developed in the islands were reaching spice stakeholders across the country.
