Port Blair, Aug 18: To sensitize farmers on the impact of water scarcity in agricultural activities, CIARI conducted an awareness programme under Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva of IMD, Pune at Collinpur in South Andaman. Altogether, 20 farmers participated in the awareness programme and farmers were educated about the relationship between weather, crop plants and the pest.
Dr. A. Velmurugan, Principal Investigator of the project informed the farmers about the need to understand changing weather vis-à-vis water management techniques. He also urged the farmers to register for getting weather based agro-advisories through SMS. Mr N. Selvam, Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Tamil Nadu apprised farmers about integrated pest management strategies under changing climatic conditions. Some of the farmers, who are receiving SMS alerts from CIARI, shared their experiences of the benefit and urged other to do so. Mr T.K.Biswas, Project staff coordinated the programme.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands experience tropical monsoon climate with distinct dry and wet season. The annual rainfall of the island varies from 2900 to 3100 mm. About 95 percent of annual rainfall is received during May-December but a deficit of about 610 mm is experienced during January-April when number of rainy days in each month hardly exceeds three. Success of vegetable and pulse production during this period depends on managing water deficit condition during dry period, reveals the data analysed by CIARI under the supervision of Dr. S. Dam Roy, Director. Less than the normal rainfall is received during the dry period of last three years created water scarce situations and threatens the sustainability of agriculture. This may shift the pest population dynamics in seasonal crops.
