The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Food Processing visited ICAR-CIARI, Sri Vijaya Puram, from January 19-21, 2024, as part of a study tour to review the ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair. The visit also included a performance review of the "National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology."The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Shri Charanjit Singh Channi, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, along with 13 other Members of Parliament, namely: Shri Ramji Lal Suman, Shri Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure, Dr. Anil Sukhdeorao Bonde, Shri Sudhakar Singh, Smt. Krishna Devi Shivshankar Patel, Smt. Ramilaben Becharbhai Bara, Shri Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi, Shri Banshilal Gurjar, Shri Nitin Laxmanrao Jadhav Patil, Shri P. P. Suneer, Shri Patel Umeshbhai Babubhai, Smt. Anita Nagarsingh Chouhan, and Smt. GenibenNagaji Thakor. The delegation was led by Shri Khakhai Zou, Secretary to the Delegation, along with other officials.
Dr. S.K. Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Sciences), and Dr. V.B. Patel, Assistant Director General (Fruits & Plantation Crops), from the ICAR headquarters, attended the meeting. Officials from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, including Shri Samuel Praveen Kumar (Joint Secretary, Extension), Dr. Venu Prasad (Joint Director, Extension), Shri Anil Kumar Meena (Under Secretary), and Ajai Kumar Yadav (Director, Regional Fodder Station, Chennai), were also present. Representing the A&N Administration were Dr. Apurva Sharma (Director, Agriculture) and Dr. K.A. Naveen (Director, Animal Husbandry).
Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, Director of ICAR-CIARI, briefed the committee on the institute's significant achievements and ongoing development and extension activities undertaken in collaboration with its KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendras) and regional stations to benefit the island farmers. The committee visited various facilities, including the spice-based plantation system and the World Coconut Germplasm Centre at Sippighat Farm. They also toured the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in South Andaman, the agro-ecotourism farm, herbal garden, ornamental fish breeding unit, Nakshatra Garden, horticulture plant propagation unit, modern dairy and goat units, duck unit, and fodder plots. During the visit, the committee planted tree saplings of improved coconut varieties.Additionally, the committee explored exhibits showcasing technologies, varieties, value-added products, and unique germplasm conserved by the institute. They also interacted with successful entrepreneurs and progressive farmers, including Smti. K. Chellamel (Padma Shri awardee), Shri. Chintaharan Biswas (first farmer to register his mango variety, "Chinta Mango," from the islands), Smti. Rajeswari and Smti. Meenakshi (poultry farmers), tribal farmers from the Nicobar Islands, and Smti.. Nitu Sindhu, a mushroom entrepreneur, among others.