ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

NEW INTERVENTIONS
&
BEST PRACTICES
Included in the

Work Plan 2004-05

under
MACRO MANAGEMENT SCHEME
DIRECTORATE OF AGRICULTURE
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR
ADMINISTRATION

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Objectives
To improve substantially the living conditions of tribals and
landless people in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
To augment / supplement / complement /replace the present traditional
cropping pattern with the high value crops which are capable of bringing
sustainable growth in the income of the farmers.
To improve productivity and quality through introduction of high yielding
varieties and adoption of modern technologies.
To reduce post-harvest losses, improve marketability of the produce and
its availability to consumers by quality improvement and value addition and
promote and exports-oriented growth.
To promote better utilization of resources to ensure higher return to
farmers/producers and better nutritional health to the people.
To develop a strong base for transfer of technology and human resource
development to support developmental activities and focus on selection of
horticultural crops and technologies.
To increase the production level per unit area both in vertical and
horizontal linkage through multiple and multi-tier cropping system

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Strength
Congenial agro-climatic condition for the cultivation of various
horticulture crops of commercial importance.
Scope for expanding the cultivation of a wide range of indigenous
medicinal and aromatic plants and flowers like orchids, foliages which
have already stocked their importance in the presence scenario of
health and aesthetic care in the domestic as well as external
markets.
Consumption of Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are very low,
round about 9kg/hectare, for which organic farming may be
encouraging with proper production of the organic manures, which
offers a good scope for organic farming a much sought after item in
global market
Proximity to South East Asian countries which have already
established international market

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Weakness
Limited mobility from the mainland and also between the Islands
due to remoteness and scattered Islands.
No

well defined agro-climatic weather condition and

unprecedented natural calamites and lack of perennial water
sources.
Prevalence of certain pest and diseases due to congenial climatic
condition and availability of alternative host plants.
Non availability of organized marketing and processing facilities
and lack of entrepreneurship and linkages with processing units.
Poor infrastructure facilities for quality planting materials
production, proper post harvest management.
Non-availability of market intelligence.

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Opportunities
Potential for multiple cropping, mixed farming, agro-forestry in the
existing coconut/arecanut gardens as multi tiered cropping systems.
Agro-based industries provide opening for better job opportunities.
Commercial cultivation of High Value Crops.
Hi-tech horticulture under controlled conditions, high density
planting and water use efficiency measures.
Potential for organic farming
Strengthening of post harvest infrastructure facilities and
establishment of cool chain, processing, marketing infrastructures and
storages.
Commercial cultivation of indigenous medicinal and aromatic plants
and extraction of essential oils.
Strengthening market information system and marketing
infrastructures facilities.
Establishment of hi-tech nurseries for planting materials.
Introduction of biotechnologies.
Development of apiculture.

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Background
Total cultivated area in Andaman and Nicobar Islands is about
50000 ha., 50% of which covered under Coconut i.e. about 25000 ha.
followed by Paddy - 12,000 ha. and the rest of area are brought
under different Plantation crops like Spices, Fruits, Vegetables, etc.
Farmers of Andaman and Nicobar Islands are mostly come under the
category of Small and Marginal group with limited land holding.
Department of Agriculture has been making efforts for promoting
Agriculture through UT Plan and Macro Management of Agriculture.
Assistance to farmers were provided till last year was upto 25%
subsidy through Coconut Development Board & NHB schemes and
extended to small and marginal farmers, as a result visible
development at desired level has not been achieved.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

(Geographical & Agro-climatic Data)

Physiography
Total Geographical Area
Agro climatic Zone
Area..
under Cultivation
under Paddy
under Plantation, Spices & Fruits Location
Longitude
Latitude
Climate.
Climate
Rainfall (Average) per annum
Maximum Temperature (Average) Minimum Temperature (Average)
Relative Humidity
-

Rolling with hilly & flat land

8249 sq.km.
1
50,000 ha.
12,000 ha.
38,000 ha.
930 to 940 E
60 to 140 N
Tropical Humid
3000 mm
31.70C
22.10C
85%

MAJOR
CROPS
PRODUCTION

GROWN

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

2001-02

AREA

2002-03

AND

2003-04

Crops
Area (ha.)

Prodn. (MT)

Area (ha)

Prod. (MT)

Area (ha)

Prod. (MT)

Paddy

9801

27333

10885

32111

10561

30850

Vegetables

4250

21250

4572

31226

4730.7

23760

Fruits

4136

22350

4430

22141

4527

26062

Spices

1493

1724

1633

3151.25

1844

653618.12

Coconut

25205

89.68*

25305

94.32 *

253947

95.24*

Arecanut

4354

7300

4354

7400

4379

6707

Cashewnut

800

225

800

225

833.5

234.64

*million nuts

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Number, Area &Average size of Operational Holding

Size Class (ha.)

Number of
Holdings

Area of Holding
(ha.)

Average size
(ha)

MARGINAL
(less than 1.O ha.)

2,448

916.0

0.37

2,424

3,435.0

1.42

3,343

8,210.0

2.46

2,119

9,128.0

4.31

68

4,835.0

71.10

10,382.00

26,524.0

SMALL
( 1-2 ha.)
SEMI-MEDIUM
(2-4 ha.)
MEDIUM
(4-10 ha.)
LARGE
(above 10.00 ha.)
TOTAL

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Soil Details
Soils are identified in dominant six physiographic unit
Hilly terrain with escarpments/valleys.
Rolling to undulating land with sporadic hillocks/mound.
Valley
Big Nallah and Nallah alluvium
Coastal alluvium
Coastal plain
Nature
Heterogeneous
pH
Organic Carbon
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Potassium
Soil Condition in hilly lands

- Sandy to heavy clay

3.75 to 7.5
- Low to medium
- Low to medium
- Low to medium
- Medium to high
- Highly to moderately eroded

Diglipur Zone

ANDAMAN
DISTRICT

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Various Establishments

MP Farm, Keralapuram

10.00

Spices Demonstration Farm, Kalighat

10.00

Coconut Plantation, V.S. Pally

10.00

S. C.S. D Centre, V.S.Pally

10.50

Mayabunder Zone
SMF, Nimbudera

26.20

Coconut
Plantation,
Shantipur

10.00

Coconut Nursery,
Pokkadera

8.00

Legend
Agri Office
Agri Sub depot
Agri. Farms
Directorate of Agri.

* Area in Hactares

Little Andaman
Zone

SMF, Hutbay

40.00

Progeny
Farm, R.K.
Pur

10.00

Rangat Zone
MP Farm, Panchawati

8.69

Spices Demonstration Farm, Adazig Bay,

2.00

Coffee Farm, Panchawati

12.90

Coconut Plantation, Mark Bay

22.20

Coconut Plantation, Lalaji Bay

42.20

Coconut Plantation, Chitrakut

11.33

Coconut Plantation, Betapur

9.90

S C D Centre, Rangat

5.06

South Andaman Zone

SMF, Bloomsdale, Chouldari

6.90

Horticulture Station, Haddo

2.50

Agriculture Farm, Neil Island

Research-cum-Demonstration Farm, Jirkatang

10.26
9.56

Progeny Farm, Jirkatang

21.30

Coffee Farm, Mannarghat

2.70

Coconut Plantation, Carbyns cove

3.50

SCRD Farm, Sippighat

Coconut Farm, Havelock

30.00
9.07

Nicobar Zone

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

NICOBAR
DISTRICT
Various Establishments

5.40

(5 Ha. For raising nursery & 0.4 Ha. for infrastructure

setup and remaining 16.93 Ha. handed over to Tribal
Council with the approval of Honble Lt. Governer.

MP Farm, Car Nicobar

5.10

Katchal Zone
MP Farm, Kamorta

2.5

Spices Progeny Orchard

35.00

Coconut Plantation, Jansin,

13.00

Coconut Plantation, Miyayu

6.00

Campbell Bay Zone

As desired by

Honble Lt. Governer, following

quantity of Tuber Crops distributed
to theTribal farmers free of cost

Dioscoria

15
kg

Elephant
Foot Yam

18
kg

Turmeric

Ginger

Coconut Plantation, Auckchung,

Progeny Orchard-cum-Nursery Farm

Priya var.

Legend

5 kg

distributed

30
kg

To be
distributed

130
kg

-do-

Agri Office
Agri Sub depot
Agri. Farms

6.00

LAND USE PATTERN

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

(in Ha.)
800
1500

461

1593

12000

1451
4430

4354

25205

Paddy
Fruitrs
Red Oil Palm

Coconut
Spices
Cashew

Arecanut
Rubber
Fallow Land

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

OBJECTIVES

Our Vision

Sustainable Development of Agriculture considering the fragile

condition of the Island to achieve higher level of income and
employment generation.
Improving productivity of rice.
Promotion of High Value Agriculture.
CPCRI model for coconut based cropping system is to be introduced.
Land improvement work (Soil Conservation) will be taken with special
soil conservation scheme.
Coconut /Arecanut based multitier cropping with spices / fruits /
MADP /fodder will be encouraged
Organic farming of spices.
High density planting with latest cashew graft hybrid specially in
Teressa and Kamorta Islands.
Indigenous ornamental plants/flowers plants locally available orchid
flora will be encouraged to promote floriculture.

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Programmes & Strategies

Department of Agriculture in Andaman and Nicobar Islands formulating
schemes under UT plant and MMA (Centrally Sponsored Schemes) and
Special Central assistance Schemes for Tribal with extending maximum of
15% to 25% of subsidy in various schemes. This has been followed till last
financial year. Though flexibility has been tried with local specific issues
under MMA still could not achieved the production level at a visible stage.
Despite the efforts being made in the Islands there has been no tangible
impact in terms of increase in crop production and income generation to the
farmers.
With the approval of Govt. of Indias HIGH VALUE AGRICULTURE to be
implemented from 2004-05 with special pattern of assistance of 50% subsidy
on the crops like Coconut, Arecanut, Spices, Fruits, Floriculture and
Medicinal & Aromatic plants.
The programme will be implemented in the Coconut / Arecanut based
farming system with any flexibility required under the local condition. Even
the private entrepreneurs will be encouraged for setting up of organic
manure plants, Compost and establishment of nurseries for production of

M
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M
60
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12
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KM
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30 K
M

1367 KM Bangla Desh

55
12

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

ta
lka
Ko

Vi
zag

K
450

KM
0
0
4
1
a
k
n
a
Sri L
16

70

3K

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

0K

In

do

ne

Si
ng

sia

ila
Tha

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or

nd

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

WEAKNESS

Major Constraints

Undulating topography of land.

Prevalence of different pests & diseases due to conducive weather
condition and availability of alternate host in the nature.
Lack of marketing and processing facilities.
Natural calamities like erratic rainfall, untimely rain, occasional
suspension of inter-island ferry services due to cyclonic condition.
Islands are scattered over 500 to 700 KM length of distance and the
Department of Agriculture is the sole distributor of agricultural
inputs, faces difficulty to distribute the inputs in time due to
shipment delays and adverse weather condition.
High cost of human resource management.

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Crop wise production during Kharif

In Andaman and Nicobar Islands Paddy is only
cultivated under rainfed condition as field crop in Kharif.
The total area already covered under paddy are
under HYV 7544.59 ha and OTV 2837.55 ha.(Total
10382.14 Ha)
The local Traditional varieties is transplanted even in
late September so that the crop may be harvested in the
month of January.
Besides that the agronomic/agricultural practices like
fertilizer application and other practices are being

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Crop production target for Rabi

In Andaman and Nicobar Islands there is no specific
target fixed for Rabi, the target are fixed for entire
year

Crop
Rice
Vegetables
Arecanut
Coconut
Fruit
Root crops
Spices

Unit
MT
MT
MT
M/nuts
MT
MT
MT

Target
36000
23000
7400
96
25000
15000
204

Interventions included in the Work Plan 2004-05

under NATIONAL HORTICULTURE BOARD
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Name of the Project

Outlay
Physical

Financial

1. Transfer of Technology & Marketing Information Services

Introduction of New technologies
Demonstration on Hi-tech vegetables
/flowers

Visit of Progressive farmers for as batch of

15-20 farmers at a time

Domestic study tour of officers (15 Nos.) of

Department of Agriculture

Setting up of Market Information Centre

Engagement of technical persons, one data entry operator, etc

2. Horticulture promotion Service

Engagement of technical person & Consultancy Services

18.10

1
6.40

Interventions included in the Work Plan 2004-05

under COCONUT DEVELOPMENT BOARD
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Name of the Project

Outlay
Physical

Financial

10 Nos.

5.00

24,225 Nos

62.50

3. Area expansion under coconut

200 ha.

8.00

4. Demonstration Plots in Coconuts

100 ha.

35.00

5. Promoting Organic Manure Production and supply

of organic manure(500 MT) and Bio-fertilizers (15 MT)

500 MT

26.10

4000 Nos

2.50

7. Promoting Primary processing of Copra

20 Nos

3.00

8. Setting up of Integrated Coconut Processing

Complex

4 Nos

16.00

1. Infrastructure Development (micro irrigation)

2. Removal & replanting of Coconut Palm

Production of Organic Manure by farmers (30Nos.)

6. Production of DXT seedlings and Establishment of

Hybrid Coconut Garden for Tender Coconuts including
Training on production of hybrid seeds.

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Interventions included in the Work Plan 2004-05

under MACRO MANAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Name of the Project
1. Rejuvenation of Arecanut garden

Outlay
Physical

Financial

1.50 lakhs

3.00

2. Cultivation of fruits
Cultivation of fruits (i) Area to be covered
(ii) Procurement of planting materials

50 Ha.
3.3 Lakhs

42.62

3. Cultivation of Medicinal & Aromatic plants

Area to be covered

50 ha

Cultivation of fodder

100 ha

Procurement of Medicinal Plants.

5 Lakhs

Procurement of fodder seeds

100 Kgs

71.35

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Interventions included in the Work Plan 2004-05

under MACRO MANAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Name of the Project
4. Cultivation of Flowers in Green House
5. Establishment of nursery with 4 ha. of land by
Entrepreneurs, Strengthening the Departmental
nursery, procurement and production of quality
seeds/rhizomes and planting materials

Outlay
Physical

Financial

10 Nos
1 No.
2 Nos

29

(as per need

based)

81. 50

6. Rejuvenation of Black pepper garden

150 ha.

25.80

7. Area expansion of Spices

375 ha.

39.70

8. Integrated Pests & Disease management

92 ha.

1.49

9. Organic production of spices

400 ha

4.80

10. Cultivation of vegetables

20 ha.

3.15

100 Nos.

5.35

68 ha.

3.40

11. Bee Keeping

12. Development of Root & Tuber Crops

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Other projects included in the Work Plan 2004-05 under MMA

Outlay

Name of the Project

Physical

Financial

500 Nos

1.69

Block demonstration of Black gram &

Green Gram

4 Nos

0.60

Supply of Improved farm Implements

3 Nos

0.06

1. Integrated Scheme of pulses and Maize

Distribution of Pulses & Maize

2. Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization among small farmers

Popularization
machineries

of

new

suitable

Supply of power driven equipment /

implements

26 Nos

7.80

42 Nos

4.20

3. National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas

Area to be treated

1166 Ha.

70.00

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Success Story
Out of 50000 ha. of cultivated land in Andaman and Nicobar
Islands an area of 4184.22 ha. area is declared unfit due to
saline affected, nallah eroded, gravel deposition, drainage
problem etc. The Govt. of India has further banned to release
any agricultural land from the reserve forest which is about
93% of the total geographical land. Accordingly UT
Administration has proposed for additional fund in the IX Five
Year Plan to reclaim saline affected land/protection to check
stream bank erosion /to prevent land from gravel deposition and
to make them suitable
for cultivation. The planning
Commission has accepted the proposal and the Soil
Conservation work in the form of Saline reclamation bund,
construction of spurs and check dams, removal of gravel
deposition and construction of Check Dams for Minor
Irrigation has been started since 2001-02 and the result of the
above works has been mentioned in the following tables : -

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

SUCCESS STORY

Soil Conservation

Saline affected area, Gravel deposition and stream bank erosion in

Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Based on survey during IX plan)
Farmer
Area
Farmers
Area
s
reclaime benefite
affected affecte
Problems
d
d
d
(in ha)
(in Nos)

(in ha)

(in Nos)

Saline Affected land

1359.22

482

124

205

Stream bank Erosion control

271

907

119.50

112

Gravel Deposition

54

217

2.50

Drainage problem

2500

1500

333.50

290

Total

4184.22

3106

579.50

609

Details of Soil Conservation work to make the land fit for

SUCCESS STORY
cultivation done since 2001-02
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

Problems

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

Total

Saline reclamation bund

Area (Ha.)

52

72

231.65

355.65

Beneficiaries (Nos.)

30

54

121

205

Improvement of drainage line

Area (Ha.)

113.5

264.2

377.7

Beneficiaries (Nos.)

94

196

290

Stream bank erosion control

Area (Ha.)

119.5

69.48

188.90

Beneficiaries (Nos.)

60

52

112

Removal of Gravel Deposition

Area (Ha.)

2.50

2.50

Beneficiaries (Nos.)

Grand Total
Area (Ha.)

54.50

305

565.33

924.83

Beneficiaries (Nos.)

32

208

369

609

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

GLIMPSES OF SOIL CONSERVATION & MINOR IRRIGATION WORKS

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

SUCCESS STORY

Minor Irrigation Works

Construction of Check Dams

No.of Check Dams

No. of beneficiaries

Irrigation [potential
created (in Ha.)

Expenditure incurred
in Rs(lakhs)

1999-00

2*

10

1.90

2000-01

10

0.98

2001-02

25

2.90

2002-03

19

40

176

18.56

2003-04

62

395

422

99.72

Total

87

447

643

124.06

* Constructed in Govt. farms

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

SUCCESS STORY

From the above mentioned tables it is evident

that the Administration has taken the right
decision to make the land fit for the
cultivation where the availability of the land
for agriculture is limited to 50000 ha. only and
farmers are also benefited through these
activities. In Dasharatpur village of Middle
Andaman farmers have successfully grown
paddy during the year 2003-04 first time after
of 50 years since rehabilitated under
colonization scheme.

CSS MACROMANAGEMENT OF
AGRICULTURE
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

IMPLEMENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,

ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ADMINISTRATION

Sl. No.

1.

Physical
Target

Name of the scheme

Vegetable
Seed
Programme (in Nos.)

Minikit

Physical
achievement

Distribution

a.

Distribution of Vegetables seeds Minikits

2.

Establishment of Nutritinal Garden in Rural Areas

a.

Distribution of fruit plants (in Nos.)

3.

Integrated Development of Fruits

i.

Area Expansion Programme

a.

Citrus, Guava, ber, miscellaneous (Ha.)

b.

2003-04

Financial Target(
Rs. In Lakhs)

Financial
Achievement( Rs. In
Lakhs)

4.50

3.97364

0.501.40

0.34685

2.06

1.61864

1639
3000

10000

2674

6937

10000

4068

10

6.75

Papaya (Ha.)

0.80

c.

Banana, Pineapple (Ha.)

4.323

ii.

Distribution of PP equipments (Nos.)

20

16

Sl. No.

Name of the scheme

Physical
Target

Physical
achievement

Integrated Programme for Development of Spices

Laying out of field demonstration plots

a.

Black pepper (No.)

300

234

b.

Ginger (No.)

100

85

C.

Chilly

100

87

d.

Betel vine (No)

50

45

ii.

Pest and Disease management

a.

Black Pepper (Ha.)

50

33.275

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

4.

Financial
Target( Rs.
In Lakhs)

22.00

Ginger (Ha)

c.

Betel vine (Ha)

iii.

Multiplication of planting materials in

Departmental farms

a.

Black pepper

iv.

Distribution of pepper cutting for promotion of

pepper cultivation as inter crop (Nos.)

50

13.73

0.25

0.26

50000

22270

Financial
Achievement( R
s. In Lakhs)

10.1427

Sl.
No.

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

5.
a.

Name of the scheme

Physical
Target

Physical
achievement

Financial
Target( R
s. In
Lakhs)

Financial
Achievem
ent( Rs.
In Lakhs)

1.65

0.1494

2.98

0.0425

4.175

Commercial Floriculture
Area expansion under floriculture ( units of 0.12 ha.
Each)

Assistance for construction of mini orchid house in the

farmers field (Unit)

6.

Beekeeping

Supply of bee hive boxes along with accessories

Training on be keeping

7.

Use of plastic in Agriculture

a.

Popularization of plastic culture technology among the

farmers through demonstration in the Govt. farm

Drip /Sprinkler irrigation

ii

Green House

b.

Assistance for construction of green house in farmers

field (No.)

10

200

200

Sl.
No.

Name of the scheme

Physical
Target

Physical
achievement

Financial
Target( Rs. In
Lakhs)

Financial
Achievement( R
s. In Lakhs)

1.00

3.73

0.8032

4.5

2.00

0.4089

3.75

47.00

44.16469

3.75

11. Soil and Plant Health Clinics

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

a.

Distribution of soil and plant health cads including cost of

paper and printing charges.

b.

Strengthening of existing bio-control lab.

i.

Cost of different equipments and accessories for production

and multiplication of bio-agents

ii..

Supply of pheromone traps / light traps to the farmers

iii.

Farmers field school for IPM Demonstration (Nos.)

9.

Small farm mechanization

i.

Distribution of power tillers (Nos.)

2000

120

15

20

10. Development of Medicinal & aromatic Plants

a.

Establishment of Demonstration plots in 0.05 ha area (No.)

b.

Establishment of nursery center for Medicinal & aromatic

plants (No)

11. Agriculture Marketing

a.

Procurement of refrigerated container / walk-in-coolers for

transport of perishable items from one Island to another.

12

National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas

13

Concurrent Evaluation

790

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS