Port Blair, Dec 12: A three-day training on “Installation and maintenance of gravity fed drip irrigation” for the practicing farmers, farm women and rural youth of Brindavan Gram Panchayat was organized by ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, South Andaman . Dr. Y. Ramakrishna, Head, KVK, brief on to adopt efficient methods to irrigate various crops and the need of lifesaving irrigation for sustainability of crops in the water deficit periods in the fragile island ecosystem. Dr. B. K. Nanda, SMS (Agri. Engg.), Course facilitator of the training program discussed about the installation and maintenance of gravity fed drip irrigation method as one of the efficient method of irrigation for the plantation crops suitable to the land topography of the island. He urged the trainees to follow the various techniques involved in creation and management of water resources structures for various land forms suited for these islands. Dr. N. Bommayasamy, S.M.S. (Agronomy) made a detailed presentation on the water requirement for various crops and water application techniques through drip and sprinkler irrigation methods. Dr. Zachariah George, S.M.S. (Animal Science) urged the participants to use the conserved water resources judiciously for the livestock as the water requirement is high for rearing the birds and animals. Dr. Pooja Kapoor, S.M.S. (Home Science) speaks on proper management of water resources by the farm women. The trainees visited the water resources structures and tank cum well system of irrigation method created under the project National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) at the Climate Smart villages of Lal pahad, Badmash Pahad and Creekabad. A total of 28 nos. of farm women are benefitted. The programme was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.
