Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 25 September 2025
To promote sustainable agriculture and achieve self-reliance in spice production, the Department of Agriculture, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, launched the ambitious SPICE PRAVAH campaign on 31st July 2025. Continuing the Administration’s goal of 100% spice import substitution, a Ceremonial Plantation event under SPICE PRAVAH (Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam) was organized on 24th September 2025 at Progeny Farm, Jirkatang, as part of the ongoing Sewa Pakhwada.
The event was graced by Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, as the chief guest. Ms. Chanchal Yadav, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Agriculture), along with several senior officials including Mr. Neeraj Bharati, IAS, Secretary (Vigilance & Home), Mr. Satnam Singh, IAS, Secretary (GA/ Protocol and Personnel), Mr. Rajesh Chopra, IAS, Secretary-cum-RCS, Ms. Pallavi Sarkar, IAS, Secretary (Agriculture), and Ms. Priyanka Kumari, Director of Agriculture, participated in the plantation of clove seedlings. Farmers and officials from the Department of Agriculture also joined in, marking a collective commitment to SPICE PRAVAH.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary emphasized the importance of spices in daily life and their historical significance. Highlighting India’s reliance on imported spices, he noted that SPICE PRAVAH aims to promote tree-based spice cultivation in the Islands, generating employment while contributing to national spice production. He also commended the Department for planting approximately 70,000 seedlings in just 55 days since the campaign’s inception.
Ms. Chanchal Yadav stressed the need for a comprehensive database of farmers and spice plantations, regular field visits, and continuous technical support to ensure systematic growth and harvest. She also highlighted post-harvest management plans, including modern tools and dryers for processing spices.
The Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Wimberlygunj, Mr. Venkat Ram Babu, expressed gratitude to the Department and confirmed that farmers in his area had already begun planting spices under the initiative. Mr. T. Babu, a farmer from Miletilak village, also lauded the support received and encouraged fellow farmers to adopt spice cultivation.
The Secretary (Agriculture), in her opening remarks, outlined SPICE PRAVAH’s objectives to diversify into high-value crops like black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Initially targeting 40 hectares with 70,000 seedlings, the program expanded to 46 hectares with participation from over 13,000 farmers due to overwhelming response. She also highlighted plans for spice aggregation and processing centers, noting the medicinal and culinary value of local spices. An upcoming initiative, MADHU KRANTI, aims to infuse honey with spices.
During the ceremonial plantation, 60 progressive farmers and departmental officials planted clove seedlings, which were also distributed to farmers by the dignitaries.
Similar ceremonial plantations were conducted across the Islands:
- Little Andaman: Cinnamon seedlings planted at Progeny Farm, RK Pur, with Commissioner-cum-Secretary Dr. Sachin Shinde, IFS, DFO, Tehsildar, BDO, PRI members, and farmers participating. SM Farm, Hut Bay, also hosted cinnamon saplings plantation.
- Car Nicobar: MP Farm saw the planting of spice saplings under SPICE PRAVAH 2.0, attended by Mr. L. Rahul Nair, IPS, Superintendent of Police, Car Nicobar, and villagers.
- Rangat: Cinnamon and black pepper saplings were planted at Coffee Farm Panchwati and Multipurpose Farm Panchwati by Assistant Commissioner Mr. Vikas Kumar, local PRI members, and farmers.
- Mayabunder: Cinnamon seedlings were planted at Govt. Coconut Plantation, Shantipur, with local Pramukhs, ZP members, farmers, and senior citizens participating.
- Diglipur: Rooted black pepper cuttings were planted at SCSD Farm, VS Pally, by Assistant Commissioner Mr. Abhishek Gulia and Mr. Dipankar Mistry, Pramukh, Panchayat Samiti, Diglipur.
The SPICE PRAVAH campaign is poised to transform the Andaman and Nicobar Islands into a key contributor to India’s spice production, ensuring sustainable agriculture, employment opportunities, and import substitution. (Story Based on PR)
