Fifteenth Annual Review Meeting 2021

Fifteenth Annual Review Meeting of the MIDH programmes implemented through the Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development (DASD), was held on 25-26 June 2021 through video conferencing. 

Dr. S. K. Malhotra, Agriculture & Horticulture Commissioner, Govt of India inaugurated the review meeting. In the inaugural address, he commented that in present pandemic situation, importance of spices has increased and demand has upsurged as immunity boosters. To enhance productivity and income through spices cultivation, shortage of quality planting material must be addressed on priority. He also mentioned that establishing network of nurseries with accreditation, producing quality planting material following standard protocols developed and mother blocks should be given top priority. He pointed out that the Govt of India closely monitors progress of development programmes implemented for high value crops like spices and the issues related to implementation at institute level need to be addressed to achieve the expected outcome. Dr. N.K Patle, Addl Commissioner (Hort), Dr. K.Nirmal Babu, Former Director, IISR, Dr. EVD Sastry also addressed the participants during the inaugural session.

Dr. Homey Cheriyan, Director, DASD welcomed the guests and delegates to the online meeting and in his introductory remarks, he briefed about the present scenario of production and export of spices and relevance of MIDH programmes implemented by the Directorate in improving the same.

The technical session began at 10.30 AM under the chairmanship of Dr. S. K. Malhotra, Agriculture & Horticulture Commissioner where Dr. N.K Patle, Addl Commissioner (Hort), Dr. K.Nirmal Babu, Former Director, IISR, Dr. EVD Sastry and Dr. Gopal Lal were invited as experts to review the programme. A total of 85 scientists from 45 agencies like SAUs, ICAR Institutes etc were participated in the meeting. 

Fourteenth Annual Review Meeting 2020

The fourteenth Annual Review meeting of the MIDH programmes implemented through the Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development, was held on 28- 29 July 2020 through video conferencing. The Review Meeting was inaugurated by  Dr. B N S Murthy, Horticulture Commissioner, Govt. of India on 28 July 2020 at 10.00 AM. In his inaugural address, he highlighted that the demand for spices is expected to increase in the post COVID period. The production/productivity improvement made in NHM/MIDH period to meet export and domestic demand is remarkable. He also appreciated the efforts done by DASD in Rajasthan to develop export clusters for pesticide free cumin production. He assured support from ministry in the efforts to address post COVID difficulties in spices sector. Dr. S K Rao, hon’ble Vice Chancellor, RVSKVV, Gwalior addressed the audience. Dr. Homey Cheriyan, Director, DASD delivered the formal welcome address. Dr. Femina, Deputy Director delivered the introductory remarks. There were around 53 participants representing 45 agencies implementing DASD-MIDH programmes.

Meeting on estimates of area and production of black pepper in Karnataka

The Directorate organized a meeting at Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES), Bangalore, Karnataka to discuss the estimates of area and production of black pepper in Karnataka based on a complete enumeration using a GPS enabled mobile app methodology on 28 February 2020. The meeting was chaired by the Director, DES, Bangalore and Shri. Shakeel Ahmed, Joint Director of Horticulture and Crop Survey Technical Officer, Government of Karnataka briefed the detailed methodology based on a GPS enabled mobile app adopted for estimation of area of different crops in the state. The Directorate, DASD presented the implication of the estimates based on this new methodology in the pepper and arecanut statistics in the country.

Annual Review Meeting at OUAT, Bhubaneswar 2019

The thirteenth Annual Review meeting of the MIDH programmes implemented through the Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development, was held from 11 to 12 June 2019 at the Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar. There were 65 participants representing 40 SAUs/ICAR Institutes implementing DASD programmes.

The Review Meeting was inaugurated by  Dr. B N S Murthy, Horticulture Commissioner, Govt. of India The inaugural session began at 10.00 AM after registration of the Delegates. Dr. Sashikala Beura, OUAT, Bhubaneswar welcomed the participants. Dr. Homey Cheriyan, Director DASD conveyed the objectives of the Review Meeting in his Introductory address. He briefed the audience about the changes in perception to be brought in the implementation of MIDH programmes and informed that outcome based programmes will be promoted from this financial year onwards. Prof S C. Dash, Vice Chancellor in charge, of OUAT presided over the inaugural function. was the Chief Guest and inaugurated the review meeting. In the inaugural address, he saluted the people for overcoming and withstanding the extremely severe cyclonic storm that hit Odisha. He highlighted the importance of spices in Indian economy, importance of traceability and nursery accreditation in spices and assured DASD support to take spices production to next level. Dr. Gopal Lal, Director NRCSS made a special address. Dr. E.V.D Sastry and Dr. S.J. Ankegowda also addressed the gathering. Dr. S. C. Swain, PI, OUAT proposed vote of thanks.

DASD Accredited 50 spice nurseries 

The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC & FW), Government of India, has authorised the DASD to put in place a Nursery Recognition Regime for Spices so that a network of recognized Model Nursery is established across the Nation which could function as a reliable source of supply of quality planting materials for spice crops.

The DAC & FW, Govt of India has entrusted DASD for accrediting the spice nurseries based on all the quality parameters. The accreditation programme was started in the year 2015-16. At present DASD have accredited 50 spice nurseries. The procedure for recognition and assessment crietieria and details of accreditation are already available in the website www. dasd.gov.in.  

National Seminar on Planting Material Production in Spices

A two day National Seminar on Planting material production in spices was organized by Directorate of arecanut and Spices Development (DASD), Kozhikode on 21-22 April 2016 under MIDH.  A total of 210 delegates registered and participated in the seminar from various parts of the country, including Scientists and experts from Research institutes and SAUs, representatives from 10 state Agri/Horti Departments, progressive farmers from 5 states and representatives from spice industry. The seminar was conducted in 5 sessions covering different aspects of planting material production in spices.    

INAUGURAL SESSION

     In the inaugural session, Dr.Homey Cheriyan , Director, DASD  welcomed all the esteemed guests, dignitaries, delegates resource persons and other participants. He informed that DASD, is hosting the National Seminar on Planting Material Production in Spices, to provide a platform to address and discuss recent developments in the planting material production technology in spices and the challenges faced in the production of quality planting material in the spices sector.  Dr.R.R. Hanchinal , Chairperson , PPVFRA inaugurated the seminar by lighting the lamp and delivered the inaugural address. Dr. P. Rajendran , Vice Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University presided over the session  and Dr. M. TamilSelvan, Addl Commissioner (Hort), Govt. of India delivered the keynote address. Shri. M.S. Dhakad, IFS , Director of Horticulture , Madhya Pradesh and Dr M. Anandaraj, Former Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode were the guests of honour for inaugural session. Dr John T. Zachariah, Acting Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode delivered the felicitation address.

Four publications from DASD were released during the seminar. They are

1. The Seminar Souvenir Advances in Planting Material Production Technology in Spices a compilation of lead and contributory papers on advanced technologies of planting material Production in spices

2. Spices Statistics at a Glance 2016 - a book on Spice Statistics which covers the statistics of various spices produced in the country during the last five years

3. Special Issue of Indian Journal of Arecanut, Spices & Medicinal Plants

4. A book on Calendar for Arecanut (Malayalam) containing calendar of operations in Arecanut cultivation.

     DASD also launched a website www.spicenurseries.in as a one stop solution for providing information on the availability of planting material in spices for the benefit of farming community across the country. As a part of Golden Jubilee Celebration of DASD, the former Directors of the directorate -  Dr C.K. George, Mr E. Velappan, Dr K. Sivaraman, Mr M. Remold and Dr M. Tamil Selvan, were honoured during the inaugural session. Dr. Femina, Deputy Director DASD & the convener of the seminar proposed the vote of thanks. The inaugural session ended at 11.40 am with National Anthem.

TECHNICAL SESSION

     The 1st technical session had presentations and discussions by experts on Advances in planting material production of vegetatively propagated spice crops - Black pepper, Ginger, Turmeric, Cardamoms, Garlic, Saffron, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Tamarind and Camboge. Six lead lectures and 17 poster papers were included the session. Different techniques for planting material production of these crops, important varieties recommended for cultivation and nursery management measures were discussed.

     The 2nd technical session was on Advances in production of quality planting materials in seed propagated spices (seed spices, chillies, clove, allspice, curry leaf). Six lead lectures were presented in the session by experts in the respective crops. Method of seed production in chillies and seed spices, hybrid seed production technology in chilli and seed deterioration in seed spices were discussed in the session.

     The 3rd technical session dealt with success stories and innovations at farmers level and entrepreneurship. Eight lead lectures on success stories of farmers and entrepreneurs were presented in the session.

     Quality assurance in planting material production of spices was the theme for 4th technical session. Quarantine measures for exchange of planting materials, standards for certification of planting material and guidelines for accreditation of nurseries were discussed during the session.

     In the 5th technical session , department officials /representatives from 13 spice growing states/ UTs  ( Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh,  Tripura,  Andaman & Nicobar,  Maharashtra,  Tamil Nadu,  Karnataka, Telangana,  Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal) presented lead lectures on respective states scenario of planting material production in spices.