Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
G. Workshops, Seminars
5.6 Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development, Calicut, Kerala
5.6.3 Major Achievements of DASD during 2019-20
During the year 2019-20, the Directorate had an outlay of Rs. 11 crores for development and promotion of spices, arecanut, aromatic crops and betelvine. Following are the major activities of the Directorate in 2019-20:
• Planting material production Programme;-
The Directorate is involved in the production and distribution of quality planting material of high yielding varieties of spices and technology transfer programmes in association with State Agricultural Universities and Central Institutes across the country. Planting material production programmes worth Rs. 5.70 crores were implemented during the year. More than 810 tonnes of seeds/
rhizomes and 25 Lakhs of seedlings of various spices were produced and distributed under this programme.
• Accreditation of spice nurseries
DASD is engaged in accreditation of nurseries to improve the quality of planting material disbursed through
various nurseries across the nation.
About 50 nurseries are recognised under DASD accreditation programme till date.
• Upgradation of spice nurseries
Under the programme Upgradation of spice nurseries, financial assistance was provided for improving infrastructure facilities of spices nurseries established at different State Agri Universities to meet accreditation norms.
• Establishment of nursery infrastructure
Nursery infrastructure facilities for spices are established at 5 different SAUs under this programme, during 2019-20.
Five large cardamom nurseries were also established under state department farms in Sikkim state for ensuring availability of quality disease free planting material to farmers.
• Skill development trainings
Skill based certificate trainings on selected agri -based job roles are being provided to unemployed rural youth.
About 500 youth were trained and certified under this programme during the last two years (2018-19 &2019-20)
• Innovative programmes
o Innovative technologies such as single bud planting and protray method of nursery raising in ginger and turmeric had been promoted by the Directorate. A special programme on micro-rhizome production has been undertaken in association with Kerala Agri University and the Indian Institute of Spices Research to promote disease free seed material in these crops.
o Participatory mode rehabilitation
programme for pepper gardens was implemented in Kuttyattur panchayat of Kannur district in Kerala. This programme has resulted in significant increase in productivity and litre weight of pepper in the project area.
o A project on varietal authenticity and purity identification in black pepper is completed at IISR, Calicut and a foolproof varietal authentification method using morphological, chemical and molecular markers has been developed.
• Seminar/farmers training programmes
One national level Seminar, three state level seminars, 12 district level seminars and 110 farmers training programmes were conducted by the Directorate during the year. Around 10,000 farmers were given training on different aspects of cultivation, management, post harvest management and processing of spice crops.
• Frontline demonstrations
o Demonstration on pesticide free cumin production through popularization of Good Agricultural Practices (bio-agents and botanicals for plant health management) has been established in Barmer and Nagaur Districts (25 ha each) of Rajasthan.
o Demonstration on organic turmeric production and value addition is implemented in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh (in 25 ha area) to improve livelihood of tribals in the area.
o Demonstration of bio intensive management of black pepper adopting organic cultivation practices (in 25 ha area) for creating targeted production hubs is implemented in Wayanad district of Kerala.
o To popularize Arecanut Based Multi Species Cropping System through farmers participatory approach among arecanut farmers in Assam and Karnataka, demonstration plots have been established with cocoa, black pepper and banana intercrops.
o Demonstrations on intensive cultivation of cinnamon as intercrop in coconut gardens , EPN technology for management of white grub in arecanut and cultivation of arecanut dwarf hybrids are also established in different locations through farmer participatory approach Hi-tech, high density bush pepper
(Colubrinum grafted) cultivation for improved productivity and income is demonstrated at five different locations in Goa.
• Collection and compilation of data related to spices
o Estimates on area and production of various spice crops and arecanut were collected from all the State Depts concerned and compiled to arrive at estimates at the National level.
The same has been disseminated to different National/State level agencies engaged in research and planning.
o Conducted a quick survey of garlic growing areas of Madhya Pradesh
(Dhar and Ujjain Districts) to analyse the discrepancies noticed in reporting area, production and productivity.
The information was collected from farmers who attended the focus group discussions (FGD) arranged in these villages, through an interview schedule and the survey findings were submitted to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
o Conducted quick surveys in the major pepper growing States like Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to find out the likely production of black pepper during the ensuing crop season 2019-20.
• Publicity activities
o Participated in national/state level exhibitions/programmes in connection with development of spices across the country.
o The Directorate published a quarterly journal ‘Indian Journal of Arecanut Spices and Medicinal Plants’ for dissemination of information on various technologies related to arecanut, spices and medicinal plants.
o Publications in English/Hindi and vernacular languages have been released for development of spices.
Photographs on DASD activities 2019-20
Fig 1.Field visit and data collection conducted at Sirsi, Karnataka as a part of pepper survey 2019-20
Fig 2. DASD accreditation team evaluating ZAHRS Mudigere nursery at Karnataka
Fig 3. Accreditation awareness programme conducted at Siddapura, Karnataka
5.7 Directorate of Cashewnut and Co-