Field Day on Organic Integrated Farming System Held at ICAR-CIARI

Tarun Karthick

Sri Vijaya Puram, 31 January 2025

The ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI) in Sri Vijaya Puram organized a field day on the “Organic Integrated Farming System” in collaboration with KVK, Sri Vijaya Puram, at its Garacharma experimental farm. The event, which took place on January 31, 2025, attracted 20 local farmers. It aimed to educate the farming community on the advantages of integrating trees, crops, and livestock to improve productivity and income.

Dr. T. Subramani, Senior Scientist and Head of the Natural Resource Management (NRM) Division at ICAR-CIARI, opened the session by explaining several agronomic practices to boost vegetable yields. He stressed the importance of organic cultivation methods and advocated for the diversification of farming systems by combining vegetables, spices, fruits, and livestock components to increase both farm income and employment opportunities.

Dr. Y. Ramakrishna, Head of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in South Andaman, emphasized the potential of organic integrated farming in the region and highlighted the significance of a crop calendar for sustainable agriculture. He encouraged farmers to take full advantage of the technologies provided by ICAR-CIARI for cultivating vegetables, tubers, spices, and fruits, along with rearing poultry, goats, and fish.

The session also covered essential aspects of weather-based farming. Dr. Abilash, Scientist at ICAR-CIARI, shared insights into how weather patterns, particularly rainfall trends, influence farming practices. Dr. Talaviya Harshang Kumar, another scientist, discussed the adverse effects of pesticide use in agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries, underscoring the benefits of organic farming practices through integrated approaches.

Dr. I. Jaisankar, Senior Scientist, presented the results of the Institute’s ongoing research on organic integrated farming systems. He showcased various experiments that involved the integration of vegetables, tubers, spices, fodder, and fruit crops, alongside livestock such as goats, pigs, poultry, and fish. He provided detailed information on the system’s management, yields, economics, and the benefits of intermittent yields throughout different cropping seasons.

The event was conducted under the guidance of Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director of ICAR-CIARI. The workshop aimed to empower farmers with the knowledge and tools necessary for adopting sustainable farming practices that promise to enhance productivity and environmental stewardship in the islands.

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