Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was established in 1945, marking the beginning of organized and systematic agricultural development in the region. Prior to this, agriculture in the islands was minimal and largely subsistence-based, with the indigenous tribes relying on forest produce, fishing, and limited plantation crops for their sustenance.

Agricultural activities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands date back to ancient times, particularly in the Nicobar group of islands, where tribes cultivated coconut and arecanut as early as the 7th century. Historical accounts suggest that these crops were bartered with foreign traders from China, Malaysia, and Indonesia in exchange for iron tools, cereals, and textiles.