A District Level Monitoring Committee meeting was held on 07 January in the conference hall of the South Andaman District Office to review the implementation of the SPICE PRAVAH initiative. The meeting was chaired by Arjun Sharma, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman.
SPICE PRAVAH is a five-year roadmap spanning 2025–2030 and covering 2,000 hectares, designed to ensure holistic development of spice cultivation across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The initiative aims at end-to-end advancement of spice crops through area expansion, cluster development, and value addition, with the goal of establishing a sustainable spice economy for island farmers.
The programme focuses on promoting the cultivation of spice crops such as Black Pepper, True Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Tejpatta, and Clove, which are well-suited to the Islands’ agro-climatic conditions. By increasing local production, SPICE PRAVAH seeks to reduce dependency on external sources for these high-value crops.
During the meeting, the Chairman was updated on the formation of Zonal-level teams comprising officers and field staff to monitor plantation performance. These teams will conduct surveys to assess sapling survival rates and plant health. The initiative also emphasizes farmer training in preventive care practices such as mulching and shading to enhance growth and ensure sustainability of the crops.
For the year 2026–27, the programme aims to bring 118 hectares in South Andaman and 101 hectares in Little Andaman under spice cultivation. The meeting also reviewed the procurement of planting material from the mainland and the production of spice seedlings at departmental farms within the Islands to support the programme’s successful implementation.
Farmers can seek guidance and technical assistance for SPICE PRAVAH through the Kisan Call Centre operated by the Department of Agriculture by calling 03192-243434 or the toll-free number 1800-345-1145.
The meeting highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts and continuous monitoring to achieve the objectives of SPICE PRAVAH, which aims to strengthen the Islands’ spice sector and provide long-term livelihood opportunities for local farming communities.
