Car Nicobar, Aug. 10: A major step towards diversifying agriculture in Car Nicobar was taken yesterday, when the Zonal Agriculture Team organized a mass spice planting programme under SPICE PRAVAH in the field of progressive farmer Shri Patrick Jeremiah at Tapoiming village.
The event was graced by Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, as chief guest, along with Smti. Pallavi Sarkar, IAS, Secretary (Agriculture), Shri Amit Kale, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Nicobar District, senior Officers, and key community leaders including Shri Martin Luther, Secretary, Tribal Council, and Shri Lawrence Mathew, First Headman of Tapoiming.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Secretary stressed the need to replace aging coconut plantations and encouraged integrating spices such as nutmeg as intercrops, citing their long shelf life, higher market value through processing, and income-generating potential. It was suggested that Agri./KVK Departments to collaborate with the Tribal Council to develop a plan to adopt spices as an intercrop while replacing the old plantation and encouraged that it would generate additional source of income alongwith coconut. He also proposed branding and establishing sale outlets for local spice products, as well as setting up agro-processing activities in collaboration between the Agriculture and Industries Departments.
Chief Secretary further urged active involvement of youth in farming, with the support of Village Councils, and praised Shri Patrick for his expertise in agricultural practices. The Chief Secretary led the planting of nutmeg saplings, joined by dignitaries and local farmers, before distributing saplings to participants.
Earlier, Shri C. Vinod Kumar, Assistant Director (Soil), welcomed the gathering and highlighted the vision of the programme initiated under the Chief Secretary’s guidance to promote spice cultivation across Car Nicobar.
The Krishi Vigyan Kendra team also showcased bio-inputs, bio-decomposers, and locally grown vegetables. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks from Shri Lawrence Mathew, who called for continued administrative support to advance agriculture in the Islands.