International Journal of Vegetable Science, 21:53–68, 2015 Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN: 1931-5260 print / 1931-5279 online DOI: 10.1080/19315260.2013.823585 Analysis of Perspectives of Self-sufficiency in Vegetable Production Under Tropical Conditions Shrawan Singh, 1 D.R. Singh, 1 Subhash Chand, 2 Ajanta Birah, 3 and S. Dam Roy 4 1 Division of Horticulture & Forestry, CIARI, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India 2 Social Science Section, CIARI, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India 3 Division of Field Crops, CIARI, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India 4 CIARI, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India The government of India is promoting local vegetable production in Andaman and Nicobar Islands in a policy of sustainable development on tropical bay islands. There has been an increase in area and productivity of vegetables and reduced import of veg- etables from the mainland. Improved technologies have been transferred to vegetable farms. However, the majority of farmers rely on private agencies for inputs and mar- keting activities that limit profits. Lack of cold transport, storage facilities, modern collection centers, and processing industry are still challenges to vegetable growers on islands. Use of good agricultural practices for vegetables includes limited use of syn- thetic chemicals in the island ecosystem. The pace of adoption of improved practices in vegetables needs to be enhanced to ensure off-season availability. Many island cultures employ organic methods by default and a small amount of effort can establish them as organic hubs for vegetable production. Rising tourism and increasing import cost of vegetables increased the necessity of structural changes in production to make islands self-sufficient in vegetable production. Keywords Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Climate change, Improved varieties, Intercropping, Protected cultivation, Traditional vegetables. The price of petroleum based oil and climate change pose challenges to islands in the tropics. Tropical regions cover around 20% of the world’s land sur- face and sustain 40% of the world’s population. Agriculture plays a key role in the livelihood and economy of many tropical islands and contributes to Address correspondence to Shrawan Singh, Division of Horticulture & Forestry, CIARI, Port Blair 744101, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India. E-mail: singhshrawan@ rediffmail.com