In response to emerging needs of the farming community in Salur district of Andhra Pradesh to access opportunities in spice farming, ICAR-IISR organized a farmers meet on nutmeg farming in collaboration with progressive farmers of the district. The event was held on 19 June 2025 at the plantation owned by Mr Leela Prasad Chalasani, a progressive farmer and a pioneer in cultivation of spice crops like nutmeg in the district. Though several farmers have tried non-traditional crops like nutmeg both as pure crop and as intercrop in existing plantation, a detailed scientific assessment of the outcomes has not been done. The team of Scientists from ICAR-IISR including Dr. D Prasath, Project Coordinator, ICAR-AICRPS, Dr. Lijo Thomas and Mr Muhammed Nissar VA conducted field visits and on-farm interaction with several farmers to understand the challenges in cultivating crops like nutmeg in the region. The perception of the farmers regarding crop growth, yield, occurrence of biotic and abiotic stress and response to varied intercropping situations were discussed. The farmer meet held in the afternoon discussed the teams assessment of crop growth and potential with more than 80 farmers from various parts of the district. Before the open discussion, technical session summarizing the salient features gauged from the field visits at various parts of Andhra Pradesh including Rajahmundry, Eluru and Salur were presented to the farmers. The need for adopting alternate planting geometry of main crop (Oilpalm/arecanut/coconut) suitable for ensuring sufficient light availability for the nutmeg intercrop was highlighted in the session. Training on selection of planting material, planting time, aftercare and crop protection strategies was provided to the farmer participants. Techniques for enhancing the productivity of nutmeg in agro-climatic conditions of Salur were also discussed.
