Sri Vijaya Puram, July 23: The inaugural programme of the NABARD-sponsored project titled “Boosting Livelihoods and Ensuring Nutritional Security through Horticulture Development in Nicobar” was successfully organized by ICAR–CIARI-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Nicobar on 21 July 2026 at the field of Mrs. Esther, Big Lapathy Village, Car Nicobar. The programme marked the formal launch of project activities aimed at strengthening horticulture-based livelihoods and promoting nutritional security among the farming community of Nicobar. The programme was graced by Mr. Amit Kale, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Nicobar District, as the Chief Guest; Mr. K. Vijayapandian, General Manager, NABARD, Sri Vijaya Puram, as the Special Guest; and Mr. Lionald Nicomed, Chief Captain (CTC), Car Nicobar, as the Guest of Honour. The event was also attended by Mr. Rakesh B. Pangat, Deputy General Manager (DGM), NABARD; village captains; scientists and staff of ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Nicobar; beneficiary farmers; and other invited dignitaries. The Chief Guest and other dignitaries inaugurated the project infrastructure developed under the programme, including: Polyhouse, Water Harvesting Structure (Jalkund), and Field visit to the demonstration farm of Mrs. Esther. The dignitaries appreciated the efforts of ICAR-KVK Nicobar and NABARD in promoting sustainable horticultural practices in the tribal areas of Nicobar District.
Dr. Santosh Kumar, Senior Scientist & Head, ICAR–KVK Nicobar, formally welcomed all the guests and beneficiary farmers. He presented an overview of the NABARD-sponsored project, highlighting its key objectives of promoting horticulture-based livelihood opportunities, enhancing nutritional security among tribal households, introducing improved cultivation technologies, developing climate-resilient farming systems, strengthening farmers’ capacities through demonstrations and training programmes, and developing micro-irrigation systems in farmers’ fields to ensure efficient water use and enhance resilience against El Niño-induced dry spells and water scarcity. He emphasized that the project would play a significant role in improving farmers’ income, promoting sustainable agricultural development, and enhancing the socio-economic well-being of the tribal communities in the Nicobar Islands. Mr. Vijayapandian appreciated the collaborative efforts of NABARD and ICAR–KVK Nicobar in implementing development-oriented projects for the tribal communities of Nicobar. He encouraged farmers to actively participate in the project activities and adopt improved horticultural technologies for long-term economic benefits. Mr. Lionald Nicomed, Chief Captain (CTC), Car Nicobar, addressed the gathering and appreciated the efforts of NABARD and ICAR–KVK Nicobar for launching a project aimed at strengthening horticulture-based livelihoods and improving nutritional security in the Nicobar Islands.
Mr. Amit Kale, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Nicobar District, and Mr. Lionald Nicomed, Chief Captain (CTC), Car Nicobar, distributed horticultural inputs and project materials to the selected beneficiaries, marking the formal launch of field-level implementation of the NABARD-sponsored project. In his address, Mr. Amit Kale, IAS, congratulated NABARD and ICAR–KVK Nicobar for initiating the project and appreciated the KVK’s efforts in promoting need-based agricultural interventions for the tribal farming community. He emphasized expanding the project’s outreach to benefit more farmers, maintaining systematic documentation of project activities and success stories, and promoting the scientific production and value addition of cocopeat in Nicobar to create sustainable livelihood opportunities. Addressing the gathering, Mr. K. Vijayapandian, General Manager, NABARD, Sri Vijaya Puram, highlighted the strategic importance and practical utility of the project in Car Nicobar. He emphasized that the project is location-specific, designed to directly address the island’s unique agro-climatic challenges, and structured for easy replication across other tribal villages in the district. He noted that localized models like protected cultivation structures and water harvesting units serve as practical, scalable solutions that tribal farming households can easily adopt. Mr. Vijayapandian appreciated the collaborative efforts of NABARD and ICAR–KVK Nicobar in implementing development-oriented projects for the tribal communities of Nicobar, encouraging farmers to actively participate in the project activities and adopt improved horticultural technologies for long-term economic self-reliance. The inaugural programme was successfully organized by ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Nicobar, under the overall guidance of Dr. Jai Sunder, Director, ICAR–Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR–CIARI), Sri Vijaya Puram, whose leadership and guidance were instrumental in the successful planning and execution of the NABARD-sponsored project.
