Ooty, Mar 12: A delegation of Journalists from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, led by Mr. T. Vijay, Indian Information Service (IIS), Media and Communication Officer, Press Information Bureau (PIB), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, visited the ICAR–Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (ICAR–IISWC), Research Centre, Udhagamandalam. The visit was organized with the objective of understanding the research and development activities carried out by Central Government organizations across the southern states of India.
The delegation was warmly received by Dr. Somasundaram Jayaraman, Head of the Centre, who welcomed the members and introduced them to the scientists and staff of the Research Centre. During the interaction, Dr. Jayaraman highlighted the strategic importance of ICAR–IISWC in the conservation and management of natural resources across the country. He also presented an overview of the key technologies and research interventions developed by the Research Centre, Udhagamandalam since its inception, particularly in the areas of soil and water conservation, watershed management, and sustainable land use practices in hill ecosystems.
Following the presentation, the PIB delegation engaged in an interactive discussion with the Head of the Centre and scientists on the potential opportunities for strengthening soil and water conservation initiatives in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The discussions also explored possible avenues for collaboration with ICAR–Central Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR–CARI), Port Blair, particularly in adapting suitable soil and water conservation technologies for the island ecosystem.
The delegation expressed their appreciation for the valuable insights gained during the visit and acknowledged the relevance of the research activities carried out at the Research Centre. They noted that the interaction provided a meaningful learning experience and helped them better understand the role of ICAR–IISWC in promoting sustainable natural resource management in diverse agro-ecological regions of the country.
