Port Blair, July 16: Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI), Port Blair celebrated the 86th Foundation Day of ICAR today at its Garacharma Research complex, which was attended by Directors’ of Development Department, scientific communities, students and progressive farmers.
At the outset Dr. S. Dam Roy, Director, CIARI in his introductory remark informed about the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) which is one of the biggest Network of Agricultural Research System (NARS) in the world and is having 99 Institutes under its domain. The pioneering role in ushering Green Revolution and subsequent developments in agriculture in India through its research and technology development that has enabled the country to increase the production of food grains by 4 times, horticultural crops by 6 times, fish (marine 5 times and inland 17 times), milk 6 times, and eggs 27 times since 1950-51, thus making a visible impact on the national food and nutritional security was also told.
He also underlined the role of CIARI in the Island ecosystem and research, development and extension activities undertaken by Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair in the recent past in the field of variety development, farming system research, land shaping, homestead garden, capacity building and the intervention coupled with assest creation in the tribal areas of A & N Islands, North East and Bali Island of Sunderban.
Speaking on the occasion the Chief guest, Shri Anand Prakash, IAS, Chief Secretary, A & N Administration expressed his happiness on the conduct of the programme wherein the research findings are showcased. He urged the Director, CIARI and his team to extend the scientific support through in upliftment of socio-economic status of the Island farmers. He also released publication on success stories of farmers of A & N Islands and Training Calendar of KVKs.
Shri Onit Panyang, IAS, Secretary(Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Fisheries), the guest of honour flagged the issues of scientific support needed by A & N Administration is establishment of hatchery for production of fish fingerlings, cultivation of nutritious fodder and identifying areas for growing of planting materials to avoid import from mainland.
Deliberation on the topics “Career prospects in Agriculture” by Dr. S. Dam Roy, “Overview of Field Crops” by Dr. R. K. Gautam, “Horticulture sector for Nutritional & Livelihood Security” by Dr. D.R. Singh, “Opportunity for Indian livestock sector with particular reference to dairy” by Dr. M.S. Kundu, “Climate change and Andaman & Nicobar” by Dr. A. Velmurugan and “Technologies developed and in the process of development” by Dr. M. Sankaran was given to the students participating from five different schools of Port Blair. Beside this field visits was arranged for progressive farmers to showcase protected cultivation of vegetables, floriculture, fisheries activities, integrated farming system and insect of agriculture importance.
The celebration also had a dedicated programme for the farmers of South Andaman , wherein 100 SMART farmers were identified who have adopted agriculture technology for empowerment and were felicitated in the function held at Badmash Pahar by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, South Andaman.
