Awareness Programme on Growing Coconut for a Better Future and Life conducted on the occasion of World Coconut Day
World coconut day is celebrated every year on September 2, 2022 to emphasize the significance of coconut in the livelihood and economic security of the farmers across the globe. Each year, the day is celebrated on a particular theme, which is decided by the International Coconut Community, Jakarta. The theme identified for the year 2022 was Growing Coconut for a Better Future and Life. To mark this occasion, an awareness programme was conducted at the Government Senior Secondary School, Port Mout under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Palms project being implemented at ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair.
Dr. Ajit Arun Waman, Scientist-SS, ICAR-CIARI and organizer of the programme, gave a presentation on the topic in which he showcased the diversity of coconut available in the islands, various improved practices and varieties developed by ICAR-CIARI and other institutes in the country for enhancing the productivity of coconut. He further elaborated on the island ecosystem and role of coconut in it. Various edible and non-edible value added products prepared from nuts as well as other parts of the palm were showed to the participants. Students were encouraged to take interest in the coconut based entrepreneurships for supporting the island economy.
During the programme, twenty seven science students with agriculture as vocational subject of the school participated along with school teachers Shri. Shajan Verghese, Ms. Prasanna Kumari and Shri. Utpal Gain. Teachers appreciated the efforts of ICAR-CIARI in educating the island youth in enabling themselves in developing their own agro-based enterprises thereby promoting local produce as well as talent. Earlier, a batch of the students was taken to the experimental fields of the institute, wherein they were practically demonstrated with various field management activities. The programme was conducted under the guidance of Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI.
