Success story on “Horticulture basedroof top production model at Chinmaya mission, Port Blair

ICAR-CIARI in collaboration with NABARD, Port Blair, has implemented the project on “Horticulture based sustainable roof top production model for nutritional and livelihood security of urban households of Andaman Islands” in different places of South Andaman under the chairmanship of Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI and guidance of Dr. Augustine B. Jerard, Head, Division of Horticulture and Forestry, ICAR-CIARI.

At Chinmaya mission unit of Port Blair, the roof top model was initiated three months before by providing of growbags, organic inputs, seeds and planting material of different horticultural crops along with technical guidance. The model has been successfully established and the mission is harvesting organic vegetables and flowers for their domestic requirement. The roof top model is established in 200 m2 area and vegetables like tomato, brinjal, bhendi, capsicum, beans, cabbage, radish, dolichos and cowpea are successfully grown and the vegetables are harvested every day. Among flowers marigold, jasmine and star jasmine are grown in grow bags and the flowers are utilized for day to day activities like pooja. NABARD General Manager, Shri. Manoj and project team of scientists from ICAR-CIARI (Dr. V. Baskaran, Project leader and associated scientists, Dr. S. K. Zamir Ahmed, Dr. Y. Ramakrishna, Dr. K. Abirami and Dr. T. Subramani) visited Chinmaya mission and by witnessing the successful establishment of roof top model more grow bags and planting material of marigold and vegetable seeds were provided for next cycle of production. Swami Suddhanand Saraswati along with his team from Chinmaya Mission showed their overwhelming happiness about the successful establishment of roof top model and also showed their interest to expand. Scientist team from ICAR-CIARI and NABARD officials expressed their happiness about the saving of vegetable seeds from the present crop for next cycle. This roof top production model established at Chinmaya Mission will be a role model for inspiration to all the visitors to Chinmaya Mission and also the public.