Port Blair, Dec 21: ICAR-CIARI in collaboration with NABARD, Port Blair, has implemented the project on “Horticulture based sustainable roof top production model for nutritional and livelihood security of urban households of Andaman Islands” in 3 Public sector units and 6 households at different places of South Andaman. Various horticulture crops like vegetables, spices, flowers and medicinal plants are grown by the beneficiaries in grow bags using organic media. This roof top production model is highly successful in all the places of implementation and the benefits are being harnessed by the beneficiaries. To popularize this “Roof top production technology” a field day was organized by ICAR-CIARI under the chairmanship of Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI in which 20 women SHG members witnessed and had interaction with successful beneficiaries of the project. Officials from NABARD and Department of Agriculture also attended the programme. Smt. Bhanumathi and Smt. Uma at Birdline and Prothrapur area are harvesting vegetables and other horticulture crops for their household utility and their success experience were shared to the women participants. In ANCOL College, Port Blair, Dr Jayakumar, Principal explained about the involvement of students in establishment of horticulture crops in grow bags in organic way and the products are harvested and distributed to the students and staff. This horticulture production model established help the students to work in a useful way during their leisure time and many students showed interest in replicating the same in their households. Dr. Augustine B. Jerard, HOD, H & F and Dr. V. Baskaran, Principal Scientist and PI of the project from ICAR-CIARI briefed the participants about the technology and their various utilities along with cycle of operations to be carried out throughout the year for reaping year-round harvest of horticulture produce. Shri. Bhuvarahan, DGM, NABARD and Shri. Ramesh Kumar, JDA, Department of Agriculture, A & N Administration spoke on the occasion and expressed their happiness in establishment of roof top models for various benefits including nutrition, economic benefit and stress management. Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, encouraged the successful beneficiaries and participants to replicate the model and inspire more households to take up this technology for sustainable livelihood and nutritional security.
