Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce visited ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair

Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce on implementation of Districts as Exports Hubs (DEHs) including One District One Product (ODOP) Initiative under the Chairmanship of Shri V. Vijayasai Reddy with Smt. Roopa Ganguly, Shri Deepak Prakash, M.P. Rajya Sabha and Shri Manoj Kotak, M.P. Lok Sabha visited ICAR-CIARI, Garacharma, Port Blair on 6th January, 2022.

After the warm welcome Director, ICAR-CIARI, Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar gave a brief presentation on the overview of Institute along with research, development and extension activities indicative ICAR-CIARI in conserving, characterization unique germplasm having commercial traits which will be put in public domain after its standardization for propagation. Thereafter, field visits was made to integrated farming system model wherein different components, production with organic inputs was explained. Members also visited Horticulture propagation unit and collection of endemic plants which is having more potential for export. Institute reaches farmers through its extension wing comprising of Social Science and three KVKs is transferring the technology in agriculture and allied field through village adoption programme at each districts of A & N Islands in close collaboration with A & N Administration. The Committee discussed about the potential of organic products, medicinal plants, spices, branding and its marketing along with promotion of FPO.

The committee appreciated the work done by ICAR-CIARI benefitting the farmers and suggested to support the Govt. programmes in upscaling the livelihood towards making the Island Atmanirbhar.