Port Blair, March 25: A state level seminar on spices on the theme “Spices of Islands: Potentials and Way Forward for Profitability” was conducted at ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI) during 22-23, March, 2018. The two days state level seminar was inaugurated by Mr. Ramesh Verma, IAS, Secretary (Agri. AH & VS, Fisheries) as Chief Guest and presided over by Dr. A. Kundu, Director, ICAR-CIARI and Chairman, State Level Seminar on Spices. The gathering was welcomed by Dr. B. A. Jerard, HOD, CIARI and Convenor of the State Level Seminar and co-ordinated by Dr. S. K. Zamir Ahmed, Co-Convenor of the seminar. The seminar was attended by 120 participants representing progressive farmers, college students, Self Help Group representatives from all the three districts of the Island.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest, Secretary (Agri. AH & VS, Fisheries) remarked that the quality of spices is very important to increase the scope for marketing and hence the farmers should orient in this line with the advice of researchers and extension personnel. He further stated that value addition in spices is the thrust area to attract the interest of consumer preference. Dr. A. Kundu, Director, CIARI in his presidential addressed stressed on the scope and opportunities for organic spices cultivation in the Island. The successful famers of spices cultivation from different parts of the Island were awarded with certificate of appreciation.
A compendium consisting of the contributory papers were released by the dignitaries presented in the inaugural function. A brief note on the two days seminar was given by Dr. K. Abirami, Scientist and Organizing Secretary of the Seminar. The inaugural programme ended with the vote of thanks proposed by Dr. L. B. Singh, SMS, KVK, Port Blair. During the two days seminar series of lectures were presented by experts. Dr. Jhansi Rani, Professor and Head, Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, TNAU, Coimbatore dealt about the quality planting material production of spice crops and policy issues. Followed by this, scientists from ICAR-CIARI gave lectures on different aspects of spices production and post harvest. The two days seminar on spices highlighted the technological developments in production, processing and marketing opportunities of spice crops which are highly useful to the different stakeholders of the Island for expansion of their livelihood opportunities.
