Historic spice route revival project launched in Andaman for boosting local cultivation of spices
The Andaman and Nicobar administration has launched an ambitious project called 'Spice Pravah' to revitalize the centuries-old spice route and boost indigenous production of spices like black pepper and cinnamon. The project aims to reclaim the historical legacy in the spice trade and promote agricultural self-reliance.
The initiative includes extensive plantation drives led by the Department of Agriculture, particularly in Little Andaman. Over the next four years, significant spice yields are expected to support local consumption and contribute to the national supply chain.
To ensure quality and uniformity, the saplings will be cultivated in government nurseries. The project has received technical and institutional support from the Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, the Botanical Survey of India, and other government research bodies.
A total of 1.25 lakh spice saplings will be planted between August and September, including 70,000 cinnamon trees, 50,000 black pepper plants, and around 1,000 nutmeg trees. The project also includes provision of training and technical support to farmers.
A dedicated core team has undergone a five-day intensive training at the Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode. The 'Spice Pravah' project also aims to establish eight Spice collection centres across eight agricultural zones.
The focus of the project is on branding, GI tagging, and developing a robust marketing network. The project aims to generate economic opportunities for local communities by linking the revitalized spice economy back to the heritage of the historic spice route that once passed through the islands.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have natural advantages for spice production due to their climate and average annual rainfall. The new initiative aims to shift from limited production for local use to large-scale production to meet domestic demand and reduce dependency on imports.
The project also plans to implement intercropping strategies by utilizing available space within existing coconut plantations for spice cultivation. However, more details about this aspect of the project are yet to be released.
Spices are deeply woven into the culture and gastronomic traditions of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The 'Spice Pravah' project is expected to not only boost the economy of the region but also preserve and promote its rich cultural heritage.
- The Andaman and Nicobar administration's Spice Pravah project aims to rejuvenate the age-old spice route and enhance the production of indigenous spices like black pepper and cinnamon to foster agricultural self-reliance.
- The project includes plantation drives led by the Department of Agriculture, with a goal of yielding substantial amounts of spices in the next four years to support local consumption and national supply chain.
- To guarantee quality and consistency, the saplings will be cultivated in government nurseries, with technical and institutional support from institutions like the Central Island Agricultural Research Institute and the Botanical Survey of India.
- A total of 1.25 lakh spice saplings will be planted over the course of August and September, including varieties such as cinnamon, black pepper, and nutmeg, with training and technical support provided to farmers.
- The focus of the project is not only on production but also on branding, GI tagging, and creating a strong marketing network to generate economic opportunities for local communities, linking the revitalized spice economy with the islands' historical spice route legacy.
- The project also aims to implement intercropping strategies utilizing available space in existing coconut plantations for spice cultivation, with further information on this aspect yet to be disclosed.
