Port Blair, Dec 07: Special session on “Policy makers and farmers interaction meet on “Indigenous knowledge and technology for climate change adaptation” was conducted today on 7th December, 2016 at Dr. T.R. Dutta Conference Hall of ICAR-CIARI under the Chairmanship of Dr. A.K. Singh, DDG, (Agri. Extension & Horticultural Science), ICAR, New Delhi. Dr. R.R. Hanchinal, Chairperson, PPV & FRA, New Delhi, Dr. R.C. Agrawal, Registrar General, PPV&FRA, Shri Hemant B. Songadkar, GM & OIC, NABARD, Port Blair were the guest of honour and Dr. S. Dam Roy, Director, ICAR-CIARI presided over the function.
Speaking on the occasion the Chief guest Dr. A.K. Singh, DDG, (Agri. Extension & Horticultural Science), ICAR, New Delhi started his deliberation by quoting the saying of one of the farmer “Kisan nahi, tho desh nahi” should be the slogan of the people working for betterment of the farming community. He expressed his happiness on the strength of biodiversity available in the island in crops, animals and other components which should be effectively utilized for developing climate resilient technologies. He mentioned about the specific programme of ICAR targeting the farming community like “Farmers First”, Self employment programme for youth and Skilled development. He expressed his desire to promote more number of commodity specific crops, advocate custom hiring system and make climate resilient villages in Andaman & Nicobar Islands for which NABARD can be associated. He also inaugurated the guest house annex of the Institute.
Dr. R. R. Hanchinal, Chairperson, PPV & FRA, New Delhi, spoke on the potential of recognizing more number of farmers varieties from these islands. He expressed his happiness on interacting with Father Saw Satya the Community Leader of Karen Welfare Association and the recipient of Plant Genome Saviour Award from this island for conserving Karen rice varieties. He also assured to conduct programme in the month of February, to sensitized the farmers of the Island on the Plant Production Varieties and Farmers Right Act by his team.
Dr. R.C. Agrawal, Registrar General, PPV & FRA complemented CIARI for facilitating the farming community in getting recognition at national level. He assured to provide the information on other aspects like Geographical Indicators (GI of the crops grown in the Island for registration of the crop and other component.
Shri Hemant B. Songadkar, GM & OIC, NABARD, Port Blair deliberated on the support of the NABARD on the programme on climate change and also capacity the building programme. He also spoke on the technology transfer programme of CIARI which are supported by NABARD.
Dr. S. Dam Roy, Director, ICAR-CIARI spoke on the journey of CARI to CIARI and its Research, development and extension activities. He gave special mention on the climate change, resource management with livelihood security. He concluded his speech mentioning about registration of two breed viz., Teressa goat and Nicobari pig of this Island with NBAGR, Karnal.
Dr. A. Velmurugan, Senior Scientist, Dr. Nagesh Ram, Dr. B.L. Kasinath, Sr. Scientist and Head of KVKs, and the progressive farmers from South and North & Middle Andaman shared their experiences on the technological interventions and the enterprise adopted for livelihood.
At the outset Dr. A.K. Singh, Senior Scientist and Organizing Secretary of ICCB-2016 welcomed the august gathering and Dr. S.K. Zamir Ahmed, Pr. Scientist of ICAR-IARI, summed up the issues flagged and proposed vote of thanks.
