Port Blair, Dec 29: The ICAR – Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI) conducted a two-day training programme on “Cultivation of Black Pepper, Ginger and Turmeric as livelihood option for Island farmers” at Diglipur recently in association with ORC, CIARI, Diglipur. The programme was sponsored by the Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development Board (DASD), Kozhikode under the MIDH project on spices. Altogether, 70 farmers from different villages like Keralapuram, Ramnagar, Durgapur, Shyamnagar, R. K. Gram, Kalipur, Madhupur, Rabindrapally and Manpur participated in the training.
The training programme was inaugurated by Mr Sankar Das, Pradhan, Keralapuram, Diglipur on Dec 24. In his address, the chief guest appreciated the efforts taken by the Director in imparting knowledge on most wanted field i.e. spices which is one of the main attraction of the visiting tourists. The over whelming response of the farmers representing from different cluster of villages was also put into record by him.
The course coordinator, Dr. S.K. Zamir Ahmed, Principal Scientist and I/c ORC, briefed the farmers about the importance of training programme and described the scope and opportunities of growing spice crops in the Island. Dr. V. Damodaran, ACTO, CIARI and course coordinator explained the production technology of ginger and turmeric in the Island. The Course Director, Dr. K. Abirami, Scientist, CIARI delivered interactive lecture on Black pepper production technology in the Island. Dr. V. Baskaran, Senior Scientist, CIARI briefed the farmers about bush pepper production technology and preparation of organic formulations.
During the interaction session problems raised on PoP, marketing and other aspects by the farmers on plantation and spices crops were addressed by the team. Field visits were made to the farmers field on 25th December, 2015 and technical guidance were given to the farmers in respect to spices cultivation. The spice team also assured to conduct demonstrations on turmeric, ginger and flowers with recommended varieties at two locations each in association with Department of Agriculture in the coming season.
Two technological demonstrations on black pepper under arecanut based cropping system was taken up by ORC of ICAR-CIARI under the guidance of the team at Keralapuram and R.K. Gram in an area of 0.1 ha each which will act as model for replication in the field of other farmers. Beside planting material of black pepper, clove, cinnamon and nutmeg were distributed to the farmers during the training programme also. The two days training programme was conducted under the supervision and guidance of Dr. S. Dam Roy, Director, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.
