Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 10 February 2023
The much-awaited Tissue Culture Laboratory was inaugurated in a brief function organized on 9th February 2023 in Organic Horticulture Farm, Sippighat. Mr. Pankaj Kumar, IAS, Secretary (Agriculture) A & N Administration, was the chief guest, and he inaugurated the newly built Tissue Culture Laboratory. Dr. Eknath B Chakurkar, Director, CIARI, was the guest of honour on the occasion. Ms. Champa Das, Pramukh, Prothrapur Panchayat Samiti, Mrs. Radhey Shyam Meena, Director of Agriculture, Ms. Taposi Saha, Pradhan, Chouldari, Mr. Palani Kumar, Pradhan, Humphrygunj, farmers of nearby villages and the staff of Agriculture Department and CIARI were present on occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the chief guest expressed his happiness in fulfilling the long pending requirement of the farmers of these Islands. He also appreciated the efforts of the Agriculture Department and APWD in the successful completion of the project. He stated that farmers now have the opportunity to establish a commercially sustainable venture in the future and can export the planting material to mainland.
In his address, the guest of honour lauded the efforts of the Department for taking such a good initiative by using high technology.
Speaking on occasion, Ms. Champa Das expressed her gratitude for fulfilling the farmers’ long pending demand, which will enable a timely supply of planting material to farmers and mitigate dependency on mainland.
Dr Ajit Arun Waman, Scientist (Horticulture), CIARI, spoke in detail about the mandates of commissioning the Tissue Culture Laboratory. The lab will produce cloned good quality and disease-free planting material of bananas, pineapples and orchids in a phased manner. He also urged the farmers to avail maximum benefit from the lab.
Mr. Radhey Shyam Meena, Director of Agriculture, A & N Administration, proposed the vote of thanks and requested the farmers to come forward and reap maximum benefit from the Tissue Culture Laboratory.