Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan. 7: A District Level Monitoring Committee (DLMC) meeting for effective implementation of the SPICE PRAVAH initiative was held today with the Department of the Agriculture under the Chairmanship of Shri Arjun Sharma, IAS, Deputy Commissioner (South Andaman) in the conference hall of District Office, South Andaman District.
SPICE PRAVAH is structured as a five-year roadmap (2025–2030) covering 2,000 hectares with an integrated approach aimed at ensuring holistic spice development across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The initiative focuses on end-to-end advancement of spice crops through area expansion, cluster development, and value addition, with the objective of creating a sustainable spice economy for island farmers. It has been launched to reduce dependency by promoting cultivation of Black Pepper, True Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Tejpatta and Clove, which are well suited to the agro-climatic conditions of the Islands.
To monitor plantation performance, Zonal-level teams comprising officers and field staff are being constituted to conduct surveys on sapling survival and plant health management. Emphasis is being laid on training farmers in preventive plant care practices such as mulching and shading to ensure better growth and sustainability.
Under the initiative, an area of 118 hectares in South Andaman and 101 hectares in Little Andaman is proposed to be brought under spice cultivation during the year 2026–27. The Chairman was apprised about the procurement of planting material from the mainland as well as production of spice seedlings at departmental farms within the Islands for successful implementation of the programme. Regarding outreach mechanisms, farmers can seek guidance and technical advice on SPICE PRAVAH through the Kisan Call Centre, operated by the Department of Agriculture, by dialing 03192-243434 or the toll-free number 1800-345-1145.