Tribal farmers sensitized about woody pepper cultivation under DBT, New Delhi funded project

Spices have been the important cash crops grown in different parts of the islands. Apart from spices which are grown on commercial scale, local woody pepper spice is popular among the island settler communities. In order to sensitize the benefits of cultivating this unique spice, an awareness programme on ‘Woody pepper as a profitable spice for the islands’ was conducted on August 18, 2022 under the Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi funded project being implemented at ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair. During the programme, Dr. Ajit Arun Waman, Principal Investigator and organizer of the event informed the gathering about the significance of cultivation of woody pepper in the islands. Farmers were informed about the package of practices to be followed for its cultivation. Various do’s and don’ts were discussed to make the practices comprehensive to the farmers. Dr. Ajit also explained various means of marketing the produce in tourist locations of the Andaman Islands. To promote cultivation of this spice in the backyards, planting material of woody pepper was distributed to tribal farmers from Harminder Bay, Little Andaman Island. The programme was attended by 25 farmers along with Mr. Andrew Moses, First Headman, Mr. Yoseph, Second Headman and Mr. Festus, Secretary, Tribal Council. The programme was organized under the guidance of Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI.