Awareness training cum pulses seed distribution programme was organised at Basantipur and Dashrathpur Gram panchayats of North & Middle Andaman district by ICAR- KVK, North & Middle Andaman in order to promote high yielding varieties of CARI Mung and CARI Urd in selected farmers field under CFLD on 14th and 15th December, 2023. The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Eaknath.B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair in presence of Shri Ramkrishna Roy, Pradhan, Basantipur. In his inaugural address, Dr. Eaknath.B. Chakurkar, highlighted the recent advances in research and importance of pulses cultivation in rice- fallow situation for improving the organic matter content and nutrient status of soil. During the interaction with farmers, he has discussed about the availability of fish seed and feed in North & Middle Andaman. The farmers of Nimbudera urged the Director, CIARI, to provide residential training on fish breeding at ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair and demanded to provide Nicobari fowl chicks for backyard rearing. Dr. P.K. Singh, Pr. Scientist discussed in detail about scientific cultivation of pulses. At the outset, Dr. V. Damodaran, Senior Scientist & Head, ICAR-KVK, Nimbudera welcomed all the dignitaries and motivated the farmers to adopt the improved varieties of pulses developed and released from ICAR- CIARI. Later, the quality pulse seed of improved varieties viz CARI Mung-2 & 3 and CARI Urd-1 were distributed to selected farmers of Basantipur and Dashrathpur Gram panchayats for demonstration of pulses under CFLD for enhancing the production and profitability.
The Director, CIARI and the team of scientists visited farmer’s field of Shri. Nirmal Samaddar to monitor the performance of hermetic bag in comparison to the traditional storage of paddy grains, fresh water aquaculture and poultry farming activities etc undertaken at his farm. They have also visited the progressive farmer’s field of Shri. Muniyandi at Rangat and Shri. Balaram Mistry at Parnashala village
The programme was co-ordinated by Er. Manoj Kumar, SMS (Agril. Engg), ICAR-KVK, under the supervision of Dr. V. Damodaran, Sr. Scientist & Head, KVK, Nimbudera and overall guidance of Dr. Eaknath. B. Chakurkar, Director, CIARI, Port Blair. About 72 farmers and farmwomen participated and benefitted from N & M Andaman.