Port Blair, Oct. 5: National Conference on Spices, Aromatic and Medicinal Plants for Economic Prosperity and Ecological Sustainability-2023 organized by Andaman Science Association (ASA), Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands in collaboration with Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development (DASD), Kerala from October 5th to 6th,2023 in hybrid mode was inaugurated today at ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.
Ms. Nandini Paliwal, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Administration inaugurated the programme by lighting the ceremonial lamp on October 5, 2023 along with other dignitaries at Dr. T.R. Dutta Conference Hall.
Speaking on the occasion the Chief Guest Ms. Nandini Paliwal, IAS, appreciated efforts of ICAR-CIARI for extending opportunity to visit the campus to witness the cafeteria of technological demonstration in agriculture and allied fields along with landscape with endemic crops. Further she was happy to note that eminent speakers from mainland institute are delivering and sharing their experiences during the two days’ National conference on spices on the pertinent areas like new technology, pest management, post-harvest, value addition etc. She expressed that the research outcome is complete, when it is converted by the policy makers benefitting the farmers/ stakeholders. She emphasised that agri-horticulture activity should gratify farmers and motivate them to have balance with agriculture and tourism. Ventures should be economically viable so as to converge technology in policy, deliberate keeping Andaman as a case study to bring out the strategy and a compilation of best practices on post-harvest and value addition of spices as ready reckoner for policy makers. She concluded her speech by referring to DFI of GoI, wherein the importance of spices is mentioned and to achieve the goal new ways have to be identified to ensure betterment of farmers with economic sustainability. She also released Souvenier of abstract and institute publications on the occasion.
Director, CIARI & President, ASA Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, informed that spices being low volume and high value crop is of National importance. The recommendation from the deliberation of this conference will facilitate the A & N Administration to improve the status of the spice farmers by having a unique brand of Andaman and also add to the national exchequer.
Earlier the Guest of Honours Dr. Homey Cheriyan, Director, Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development, Kozhikode, delivered keynote address on “Potential of Spices in Andaman & Nicobar Islands” and Dr. M. Madhava Naidu, Ex Head, CSIR-Central Food Technology Research Institute, Mysore on “Technological intervention: Value Addition of Herbs & Spices for Economic prosperity”.
Dr. R. Dinesh, Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode, Kerala, Dr. Manish Das, Director, ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, Anand, Gujarat & Dr. Vijay Mahajan, Director, ICAR- Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research, Pune, Maharashtra, Dr. Vinay Bharadwaj, Director, Directorate of seed spices, Ajmer, Dr. K. Pradheep, Principal Scientist and OIC, ICAR- National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Regional Station, Thrissur & Dr. K. B. Ramesh Kumar, Principal Scientist and SIC, CIF, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and delegates from A & N Administration attended the inaugural function. Beside around 150 participants from 22 states/ including UTs registered for the event in online and offline mode are participating, wherein a total of 120 research papers will be presented by the reputed researchers, academicians and scholars from across the Nation in two days’ period.
At the outset Dr. P.K. Singh, Principal Scientist, Head HCIP & Convener welcomed the august gathering, Dr. Ajit Arun Waman, Organizing Secretary proposed vote of thanks & Dr. Pooja Bohra, Co- Organizing Secretary coordinated the inaugural programme.