Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 19 March 2025
The Department of Agriculture, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is making strides to boost agricultural exports and promote local products in the international market. In line with this goal, under the direction of Chief Secretary Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, a series of initiatives have been undertaken to explore opportunities for strengthening the supply chain and creating better prospects for agricultural entrepreneurs in the region. Several stakeholder meetings were conducted under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Agriculture), Ms. Pallavi Sarkar, IAS, in collaboration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
As part of this ongoing effort, the Regional Head of APEDA Kolkata, Mr. S.K. Mondal, visited the Islands from March 15 to 19, 2025, to assess the export potential of agro-based and processed food products. His visit aimed to evaluate the existing infrastructure, logistics, and production capabilities across various sectors and identify possible avenues to enhance the visibility of local products in global markets.
During his visit, Mr. Mondal reviewed the cargo handling facilities at the Cargo Complex, Port Management Board (PMB), and Veer Savarkar International Airport to assess the feasibility of transporting agro-products via sea and air. He also evaluated the phytosanitary measures in place to ensure compliance with international standards.
Mr. Mondal further visited prominent agro-processing industries, including M/s Island Coconut Oil at Burmanallah, M/s Reap Agro Products at Pema, Calicut, and three agro-based industries operating at the Industrial Estate, Mithakhari. These visits focused on assessing the infrastructure and identifying potential commodities suitable for export.
A visit was also conducted to the Heritage Museum established by the Tribal Development Cooperative Societies (TDCS) at RGT Road. Mr. Rashid Yusoof, Chairman of TDCS, briefed Mr. Mondal about the seven recently GI-registered products from the Islands and demonstrated the traditional method of producing Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO).
To explore the export possibilities of agricultural and processed products from Little Andaman, Mr. Mondal visited Reflex Industries, an A1 coconut-based industry. He also toured honey-producing farms at R.K. Pur to assess product quality and production capacity. Additionally, he met with the Secretary and Captain of Harminder Bay village, where he emphasized the importance of adopting modern processing techniques to meet international standards and enhance the shelf life of processed agricultural products.
Mr. Mondal’s visit marked a significant step toward enhancing the competitiveness of Andaman and Nicobar’s agro-based products in the global market. His interactions with local producers and industry leaders underscored the need for adopting international best practices and strengthening infrastructure to unlock the untapped export potential of the region.
The Department of Agriculture remains committed to empowering local agricultural entrepreneurs and positioning the Islands as a hub for high-quality agro-based exports. (Story Based on PR)