Archives for February 23, 2025

Sri Vijaya Puram, Feb. 23: Thunderstorm with lightning is likely to occur at one or two places over A&N Islands on Feb. 24. Heavy rain (07-11 cm) also accompanied with thunderstorm and lightning is likely to occur at one or two places over A&N Islands on Feb. 25 & 26. Squally weather with surface wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is very likely over Andaman Sea & A&N Islands from Feb. 24 to 27. Sea condition is also likely to be rough. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along and off Andaman Sea & A&N Islands till Feb. 27.

Port Blair, Feb 23: The Union Territory Agriculture Technology Management Agency (UTATMA), Diglipur in association with the Department of Agriculture, Diglipur organized a two days training programme on “Preparation and uses of various Organic inputs including compost, Bio fertilizer and Bio pesticides” at Nischintapur village under Gram Panchayat Kalighat at Diglipur Block on 21st & 22nd February, 2025.

Nischintapur village is one of the remotest village under Gram Panchayat Kalighat where 16 farmers were settled during the year 1955-56 and 2.02 ha land allotted to each farmers which is now divided into approximately 42 family.

During the training programme, Smti Arti Singh, Assistant Director (Agri), Diglipur welcomed the gathering and briefed about the importance of using various Organic inputs including Vermicompost, Farm Yard Manure, Bio fertilizers and Bio pesticides for organic cultivation of crops which is being promoted for Organic Farming. She also briefed about the Scope and importance of Organic farming and Natural farming in the present scenario in view of the ill effects of chemical fertilizer and pesticides to human being and environment.

Further, she elaborated the importance of using cowdung, Neem leaves and cow urine which was used since ancient time and now with the use of same, Biopesticides formulation like Neemashtra, Jeevamrit is prepared for sustainable agriculture.

During the training, the method of preparation of Vermicompost, techniques of mass multiplication of Earthworms and method of its application was briefed to the farmers. Earthworm being the friend of farmer, its role in improving the soil fertility was detailed. As vermicomposting is an eco-friendly process that recycles organic waste into nutrient –rich, being healthy compost, the participants were motivated to produce vermicompost from organic waste available in their farms and kitchen and use it in their farms for quality production. The method of vermicomposting using Vermibed being supplied by the Department on 20% subsidy and the precautions to be taken while preparation of vermicompost was also briefed by Smti Seena Pillai, Agriculture Officer(I/c).
The importance and uses of various bio fertilizers/ bio pesticides supplied by the Department and its method of application were also detailed among the participants of the training programme by Smti Kamrun Nisa, Agriculture Assistant. The farmers are practicing Natural Farming and only using Cow dung as manure for the crops they are cultivating. Later on Hands- on demonstration was given to the participants on preparation of Neemashtra, Jeevamrit and Vermicomposting in the presence of farmers by Mr. Riktik Baroi, JAA and Mr. Satinder Prasad, AFA.

The farmers were motivated for undertaking processing of perishable fruits and vegetables as the farmers are facing difficulty in marketing due to lack of proper road connectivity as the existing katcha road is 9.0 km away from main road of Madhyamgram village and approximately 2.0 km away from Kalighat jetty. It was assured to provide training on processing of the fruits to the 3 nos. of SHG of Nischintapur.

Also promoted the farmers for registering in the Departmental market outlet-VATIKA at Sri Vijaya Puram for selling the value added products produced by them after learning the process through the training to be provided for their socio economic upliftment. The training concluded by providing input to the 20 farmers participating in the training programme for utilizing to prepare Bio-pesticides formulations.

Diglipur, Feb. 22: The Union Territory Agriculture Technology Management Agency (UTATMA), Diglipur in association with the Department of Agriculture, Diglipur organized a two-days training programme on ‘Preparation and uses of various Organic inputs including compost, Bio fertilizer and Bio pesticides’ at Nischintapur village under Gram Panchayat Kalighat at Diglipur Block on Feb. 21 & 22, 2025.
Nischintapur village is one of the remotest villages under Gram Panchayat Kalighat, where 16 farmers were settled during the year 1955-56 and 2.02 ha land allotted to each farmer which is now divided into approximately 42 families. During the training programme, Smti Arti Singh, Assistant Director (Agri), Diglipur briefed about the importance of using various organic inputs including Vermicompost, farm yard manure, bio fertilizers and bio pesticides for organic cultivation of crops.
During the training, Smti Seena Pillai, Agriculture Officer(I/c) briefed about the method of vermicomposting using Vermibed being supplied by the Department on 20% subsidy and the precautions to be taken during preparation of vermicompost. The importance and uses of various bio fertilizers/ bio pesticides supplied by the Department and its method of application were also detailed among the participants of the training programme by Smti Kamrun Nisa, Agriculture Assistant. Hands-on demonstration were given to the participants on preparation of Neemashtra, Jeevamrit and Vermicomposting by Mr. Riktik Baroi, JAA and Mr. Satinder Prasad, AFA.
The team also urged farmers to register in the Departmental market outlet-VATIKA at Sri Vijaya Puram for selling the value added products produced by them.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Feb. 22: As part of National Science Day week, the Science Centre, Sri Vijaya Puram organized a ‘Bird Watching Programme’ yesterday. As part of the programme, the students were taken to Chidiyatapu, a place well known for its avian fauna for watching the birds and were taught to identify the birds in its natural habitat. Students showed keen interest in identifying the birds through binoculars and were able to identify 18 birds including Andaman Wood Pigeon, the State Bird of A & N Islands. Around 50 students from various schools in and around Sri Vijaya Puram took part in the programme.
After completion of the tour, the students appeared for a ‘Feed Back Test’ on the experience gained by them during Bird Watching. Accordingly, R. Sobith of Kamaraj English Medium School, Brookshabad, P. Vaishnavi of Govt. Middle School Corbyn’s Cove secured the first and second position respectively while Akshita S. of Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Pathergudda & Anushka Majhi of Invent Public School, Prothrapur were adjudged as third & consolation prize winners respectively. The prizes of the above event shall be distributed during celebration of National Science Day on 28th February, 2025.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Feb. 23: As part of National Science Day week, the Science Centre Sri Vijaya Puram organized various competitions on 22nd & 23rd February, 2025. A ‘Smell the Nature’ competition was organized for students yesterday, aiming to foster their curiosity about plant diversity. The students were taken on an interactive tour around the campus of Science Centre where they observed and learned about various characteristics, fragrances and medicinal properties of different plant species. Thereafter, a plant identification competition was conducted in which the students were challenged to recognize plant samples based on their smell & appearance. This activity encouraged hands on learning and deepened their appreciation for plant science.
Further, a ‘Painting Competition’ for the students of primary level as junior group and middle level as senior group was organized today. The theme of the painting was ‘Science & Future’. More than 200 students from various schools in & around Sri Vijaya Puram took part in the competition.
Accordingly, in ‘Smell the Nature’ competition, Anandini Kumar Manik of GSSS, School Line, Vidiya of GMS Corbyn’s Cove, Mohmmed Rijwan of RGT Public Vidyalaya, Dakshita Saha of GSSS Girls were adjudged as First, Second, Third & Consolation prizes winners. Similarly, in the Painting Competition in the Junior group, G. Lavanya of VKV, Bambooflat, Ishana Prasan Topno of Nirmala Sr. Sec. School, Vinaya Krishnan of RGT Public Vidyalaya, C. Kashni of Carmel Sr. Sec. School were adjudged as First, Second, Third & Consolation prize winners. In the Senior group, S. Maheshraaja of MGIS, Nimisha S of St. Mary’s Sr. Sec. School, Edel Baxla of Nirmala Sr. Sec. School, A Priyadarsini of VKV, Lamba Line were adjudged as First, Second, Third & Consolation prize winners respectively.
The prizes of the above event shall be distributed during celebration of National Science Day on 28th February, 2025.