ICAR-CIARI in Port Blair, along with its Regional Station in Minicoy and all KVKs, celebrated the 76th Republic Day at its Garacharma campus with significant patriotic enthusiasm on January 26, 2025. Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director, raised the national flag in the presence of staff, students and family members. In his address, Dr. Chakurkar acknowledged the contributions of the scientists and staff for the accomplishments achieved by the Institute in 2024, which have garnered recognition at both the national and island levels. He expressed pride in highlighting key milestones reached in areas such as patents, commercialization, breed registration, and technology certification.
This year, the Institute was granted five patents and industrial designs, which include, acaricide formulation for control of ticks, sex determination kit for of non-ratite birds, cinnamon bark rubbing tool, closed water circulation system of which three have been commercialized. Furthermore, an additional seven patents were submitted. Two technologies were certified by ICAR, viz. Dweep carp grower feed and Iron therapy module for control of piglet anemia. Three livestock breed namely Andamani goat, Andamani pig, and Andamani duck have been registered as new breed from this Island. Two coconut varieties; Dweep Haritha and Dweep Sonal have been notified in the Govt. of India Gazette for cultivation in Island condition. The Institute has been granted trade mark “Dweep” which will be used in all research product/technologies as prefix.
In addition to these scientific developments, several important events organized, including recent visit of the Parliamentary Standing Committee from January 19-23, 2025. Institute also initiated development of new infrastructure such as solarization of the office building, biofloc unit Agro-eco-tourism, a modern dairy unit, an ornamental fish breeding unit, and the installation of a fish aggregating device at Minicoy, Lakshadweep. Smti K. Chellamal, a progressive farmer facilitated by our Institute, was honored with the Padmashree award. Mr. C. Arjun fishery entrepreneur received recognition from the Hon'ble President of India for his initiation of freshwater ornamental fish culture startup. Shri Chintaharan Biswas, an innovative mango farmer from Shaheed Dweep, successfully registered his mango variety as “Chinta Mango” with the PPVFRA.
He wrapped up his speech by congratulating all team member scientific, administrative, technical, and support staff for their steadfast commitment and assistance in fulfilling the institute's research, development, and extension goals, which encompass those of the KVKs and the Regional Station.