18 Sept 2025
The Andaman and Nicobar administration is set to expand spice cultivation and strengthen trade through its newly launched initiative, ‘Spice Pravah’, aimed at reviving the Islands’ centuries-old connection with the global spice market.
Speaking on the initiative, Chief Secretary Chandra Bhushan Kumar highlighted the region’s unique advantages, saying, “Spices are deeply woven into our culture and culinary traditions. Historically connected to the global spice trade since the Chola Empire and through colonial periods, the Islands are now leveraging their natural endowments to expand spice cultivation.”
With an average annual rainfall of 3,400 mm over 180 days and a climate highly conducive to spice production, the Islands provide ideal conditions for cultivating a wide variety of spices. Kumar emphasized that historically, crops such as cinnamon, clove, and black pepper were grown in limited quantities, primarily for local use. “Spice
Pravah marks a strategic shift towards large-scale production, meeting domestic demand and reducing import dependency,” he added.
Under the project, 1.25 lakh spice saplings are scheduled for planting between August and September. This includes 70,000 cinnamon trees, 50,000 black pepper plants, and around 1,000 nutmeg trees, all raised in government nurseries to ensure quality and uniform growth.
The initiative will receive technical and institutional support from the Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI), Botanical Survey of India, and other government research bodies. Innovative intercropping strategies are planned, utilizing existing coconut plantations to increase spice output without compromising other crops.
Kumar noted, “Over the next four years, we anticipate substantial spice yields that will not only satisfy local consumption but also strengthen national supply chains.” The project also envisages the establishment of eight spice collection centers across agricultural zones, aimed at processing, value-added product development, training, and technical support for growers.
Additionally, the Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode, has formed a dedicated core team that underwent intensive training to support the project. Spice Pravah will further focus on branding, GI tagging, and building robust marketing networks to help Island-grown spices gain recognition in domestic and international markets.