Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary, DARE, and DG, ICAR, visited ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair, on May 5, 2024. He visited the horticulture nursery block, world coconut germplasm centre, livestock farm complex, agro-ecotourism farm, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, South Andaman, and marine research laboratory. During his visit to different research and farm units, he interacted with the scientists and technical staff and urged to do more innovative research work with significant outcomes for the benefit of the farming community of the islands. Dr. E.B.Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI gave overall presentation about the institute profile, achievements and development made by the institute. Staff of Regional Station, Minicoy KVK, Nimbudera and KVK, Nicobar alaso attended the interaction session. DG appreciated the institute research and technological development and interacted with all the staff members of the institute.
On the occasion, he felicitated Padmashree awardee farmer Smti. K. Chellamel and Shri. Chintaharan Biswas, a progressive farmer, whose mango has been registered as Chinta Mango by PPVFRA. He lauded the effort of the institute in taking the technologies to the farmers field and motivating entrepreneurship development.
He inaugurated an ornamental fish breeding unit and an essential oil field extraction unit in the institute. Dr. V.B. Patel, ADG (F&PC), and Dr. Pradeep De, Director, ATARI, Kolkata, were also present on the occasion. Publications and a mobile app were also released by the hon’ble secretary, DARE, and DG, ICAR, on the occasion.