Port Blair, Dec 7: The ICAR- Central Island Agricultural Research Institute here conducted a three-day training programme in promoting livelihood and nutritional security for tribal farmers of these islands through introduction of pulse crops and maize cultivation in association with KVK, Nicobar from Dec 3-5, 2015 at Harmindar Bay, Little Andaman. The training was conducted under the leadership and guidance of Dr. S. Dam Roy, Director, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.
The objective of the training programme was to improve livelihood and nutritional security of tribal farmers through the introduction of pulse and maize crops under tribal dominated areas by Dr. A. K. Singh, Sr. Scientist, Division of Field Crop Improvement & Protection, ICAR-CIARI. Altogether, 61 male and female tribal farmers attended the training.
While imparting the scientific and technical know-how and do-how, Dr. Awnindra K Singh highlighted on various technological interventions needed for improving pulse cultivation with respect to the nutritional aspect and prospects of pulses and maize for crop diversification at the traditional farming system of the tribal areas of Little Andaman. He also educated the farming community of the villages on adoption of pulses and maize cultivation. During training, demonstration of mungbean, urdbean and maize crops cultivation was also demonstrated.
During demonstration among tribal farmers, the method of land preparation, sowing of mungbean, urdbean and maize on farmers’ field of Harmindar Bay Village was done in participatory mode. Seeds of high yielding varieties of mungbean, urdbean and maize were distributed among the tribal farmers. Mr Fred Levi, First Captain and Mr Festus, Secretary tribal Village Council Harmindar Bay emphasized the usefulness of training programme on pulse and Maize, which will benefit the tribal community as a whole as it is going to supplement nutrition in the diet and also make the soil healthy.
