Sri Vijaya Puram, June 08: ICAR–Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI), Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Nicobar organized and celebrated World Ocean Day and Khet Bachao Abhiyan – 2026 on 8 June 2026 at Big Lapathy Village, Car Nicobar. The programme witnessed the enthusiastic participation of around 60 farmers and farm women from the village. The event was graced by Dr. Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata, as the Chief Guest; Dr. Jai Sunder, Director, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair, as the Guest of Honour; and Shri Manuah Thomas, Captain, Big Lapathy Village, as the Distinguished Guest. Representatives from the Department of Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Fisheries, Forest were also present during the programme. Scientists and staff of KVK Nicobar actively participated in the event. The programme commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Santosh Kumar, Senior Scientist & Head, KVK Nicobar. Dr. Santosh Kumar highlighted the significance of World Ocean Day and emphasized the need for ocean conservation, sustainable management of natural resources, and climate-resilient agricultural practices. He also elaborated on the objectives of the Khet Bachao Abhiyan, focusing on the protection of agricultural land, promotion of sustainable farming practices, efficient utilization of natural resources, and adoption of eco-friendly technologies for improving farm productivity and environmental sustainability. The Chief Guest, Dr. Pradip Dey, addressed the gathering and stressed the importance of protecting the oceans and preserving natural resources for future generations. He encouraged farmers to actively participate in environmental conservation activities, maintain cleanliness in their villages, and adopt sustainable agricultural practices to safeguard both the environment and their livelihoods.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Jai Sunder, Director, ICAR–CIARI, emphasized the importance of conserving oceans, forests, and natural resources for sustainable development. He highlighted that oceans are the largest natural carbon absorbers on Earth, absorbing nearly 25–30 percent of atmospheric carbon and thereby playing a vital role in regulating the Earth’s climate and maintaining global temperatures. He noted that although nearly 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, many regions, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, continue to face freshwater scarcity, highlighting the need for water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and sustainable water management. Dr. Jai Sunder further stressed the importance of planting and conserving indigenous tree species to restore ecological balance, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen climate resilience. He pointed out that climate change is leading to rising global temperatures, glacier melt, sea-level rise, and land degradation, making coastal and island ecosystems particularly vulnerable. Emphasizing the One Health approach, he called for collective efforts to safeguard human, animal, and environmental health through sustainable resource management and active community participation in conservation initiatives
Representatives from the development department highlighted the role of integrated farming systems, biodiversity conservation, animal health management, sustainable fisheries, and afforestation in ensuring ecological balance and agricultural sustainability in the Nicobar Islands. As part of the celebration, a beach cleaning drive and tree plantation programme were organized at the beach of Big Lapathy Village. Departmental officials, KVK staff, and farmers actively participated in the plantation drive and pledged to contribute towards ocean protection and the creation of a greener and healthier ecosystem. The programme concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Baljeet Kour. The event ended with a renewed pledge by all participants to work collectively towards environmental conservation, ocean protection, and sustainable development in the Nicobar Islands.
