Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 20 November 2025
The ICAR–Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI), Sri Vijaya Puram, in collaboration with ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), South Andaman, organised a programme on Wednesday to witness the live telecast of the release of the 21st installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.
The event was held in the presence of Honourable Member of Parliament Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Dr. Jai Sunder, Director (A), ICAR-CIARI, PRI members, and farmers from various villages across the Islands.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray shared his experiences with natural farming and encouraged farmers to adopt modern scientific technologies developed by ICAR-CIARI to enhance their socio-economic well-being. He also interacted with participants and responded to queries related to agriculture and allied sectors.
Dr. Jai Sunder emphasised the importance of Natural Farming Practices, the Gokul Mission, and the need for poultry vaccination to ensure long-term agricultural sustainability in the Islands. Dr. Y. Ramakrishna, Principal Scientist and Head, KVK South Andaman, briefed farmers on natural farming-based pest and disease management methods. Dr. Ajit Waman, Senior Scientist, CIARI, discussed strategies for whitefly management and improving yields of local spice crops, while Scientist Mr. Chittaranjan Raul shared insights into biofloc technology and inland fish farming.
During the national telecast, Honourable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi released the 21st installment of PM-KISAN after inaugurating the South India Natural Farming Summit 2025 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The installment, amounting to over ₹18,000 crore, will benefit nearly nine crore farmers across the country, supporting them in purchasing essential farm inputs and meeting household expenses such as education and healthcare.
