Scope and context
A&N's agricultural sector is small but ecologically and culturally important. Coconut dominates the island landscape — roughly 23,000+ hectares are under coconut groves across South, Middle and North Andaman, with the Nicobar group (especially Car Nicobar, Nancowry, Katchal and Great Nicobar) being the historic core-coconut belt. Arecanut, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper and turmeric form the integrated spice layer. Banana, papaya, pineapple and root crops (cassava, sweet potato) complete the horticulture basket.
The A&N Cluster Programme is anchored by the Coconut Development Board (CDB) and implemented jointly with the A&N Administration's Agriculture Department.
Component breakdown
- Replanting subsidy: ₹40 per seedling for dwarf-variety planting material (West Coast Tall × Gangabondam, Chowghat Orange Dwarf hybrids) under CDB pattern; cluster pre- and post-planting handholding by CDB field officers.
- Copra procurement at MSP: the Central MSP for milling copra is the floor (₹11,160/q in 2024-25, with revisions in 2025- 26 expected to lift it further). NAFED procures via authorised agencies; payment is via DBT.
- Neera tapping incentive: licence to tap unfermented coconut sap (neera) is a state subject; A&N has progressively simplified the licensing route since 2018. Tapping yields ~50 paise — ₹2 per litre fresh- neera margin and feeds into value-added jaggery and bottled-neera products.
- Integrated spice cluster: areca, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, turmeric — 50 — 75% subsidy on planting material and cluster-level dryers, graders and oil- extraction units. Coverage anchored in the Diglipur (North Andaman), Mayabunder (Middle Andaman), South Andaman and Car Nicobar clusters.
- Post-cyclone replanting: 2022 Cyclone Asani and 2024 Cyclone Remal both damaged groves; cyclone-specific replanting cash assistance + free seedlings + drainage rehabilitation continues under this umbrella.
How to apply
- Visit the Agriculture Office in your tehsil or CDB field office. Cluster-village enrolment is the primary route; individual replanting assistance is also available.
- Provide land record (Tribal Council, Revenue Department, or Forest Department NoC for forest- adjacent parcels), Aadhaar / Pre-1942 Resident (PRTC) certificate, bank passbook, grove inventory with GPS markers.
- CDB field inspection certifies the area and planting plan; seedlings released from the CDB nursery on the planting calendar (pre-monsoon window).
- For copra MSP procurement, deliver to NAFED- authorised centres; payment via DBT within 30 — 45 days of grading.
- For neera tapping, apply for licence via Excise + Agriculture joint authority; valid for one year, renewable.
Latest changes (2024 — 2026)
- 2024 Cyclone Remal: targeted cluster relief disbursed in coastal South Andaman and Car Nicobar; emergency seedling supply.
- 2024-25: Copra MSP raised to ₹11,160/q (milling copra) — meaningful for A&N as the dominant copra producer in the island UT segment.
- 2025: Neera tapping rules further simplified; bottled-neera shelf-life standards harmonised with FSSAI.
- 2025-26: Integrated black pepper + nutmeg cluster expansion in Diglipur and Mayabunder.
Common rejection reasons
- Land record gap: A&N agricultural land sits across Revenue, Tribal Council and Forest jurisdictions; mismatch is the commonest rejection.
- Wrong planting variety: Subsidy is only for CDB-approved dwarf hybrids; local tall-variety self-sowing doesn't qualify.
- Copra grade reject: high moisture or ball-copra below FAQ rejects at NAFED procurement.
- Neera licence lapse: annual renewal often missed; lapse interrupts incentive credit.
Coverage
Per A&N Administration data, ~23,000 ha of coconut + ~3,000 ha of spice clusters are under the programme. Annual outlay is small in absolute terms (~₹50 — ₹100 cr) but high-leverage per beneficiary; ~15,000 — 18,000 households benefit directly. Cyclone-relief outlays surge in the 12 months following major cyclonic events.
How this stacks with other schemes
PM-KISAN, KCC-MISS and PMFBY run in standard form. CDB-MIDH convergence handles horticulture infrastructure. PMFME supports micro-processing (copra grading, virgin coconut oil, areca slicing, spice grinding). The A&N Post-Tsunami Restoration scheme still runs in parallel for parcels that remain salt-affected. PVTG Cultivator Welfare targets Onge / Great Andamanese / Nicobarese cultivator households separately.