Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 21 March 2025
The valedictory function of the two-day Kisan Mela 2025 concluded successfully at the Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI) on March 19, 2025, with the participation of over 400 farmers from various clusters across South, Middle, and North Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Dr. S.K. Chaudhary, Director General of the Fertilizer Association of India and former Deputy Director General of Natural Resource Management at ICAR, New Delhi, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. In his address, Dr. Chaudhary expressed satisfaction with the positive feedback received from farmers eager to enhance their knowledge and skills. He assured that the scientists at CIARI and KVK (Krishi Vigyan Kendra) remain committed to transferring innovative technologies to the farming community.
Dr. Chaudhary applauded the recognition of young individuals and students at the event, highlighting that their success stories could inspire the younger generation to pursue careers in agriculture as entrepreneurs and scientists. At a time when many youth are moving away from farming, he emphasized that embracing technologies such as organic farming, drone technology, information technology, and farm mechanisation could significantly boost agricultural productivity.
He urged farmers to leverage the support provided by scientists at CIARI and KVK to independently adopt modern techniques in their cultivation practices. Additionally, he encouraged them to explore agro-eco tourism by integrating crops, livestock, culture, heritage, and floriculture to attract tourists and diversify their income sources.
In his presidential address, Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director of ICAR-CIARI, expressed satisfaction with the successful conduct of the Kisan Mela. He lauded the active participation of farmers and stakeholders, acknowledging their enthusiasm for adopting innovative ideas to improve their socio-economic conditions. Dr. Chakurkar emphasized that the feedback received from farmers after each Mela plays a crucial role in shaping new research projects to address specific agricultural challenges.
During the event, five farmers from three districts were honoured for their successful adoption of agricultural technologies and entrepreneurial ventures. Awards for the best stalls were presented to CIARI, the Agriculture Department, and Self-Help Groups (SHGs), recognising their outstanding contributions to the event.
The event commenced with a warm welcome by Dr. V. Damodaran, Senior Scientist and Head of KVK N&M Andaman. Dr. Santosh Kumar, Senior Scientist and Head of KVK Nicobar, provided an overview of the Kisan Mela, while Dr. Y. Ramakrishna, Principal Scientist and Head of KVKs, delivered the vote of thanks. The event was coordinated by Mr. Mohit, Subject Matter Specialist, ensuring its smooth execution.
The Kisan Mela 2025 concluded on a high note, leaving farmers inspired and equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to embrace modern technologies and diversify their farming practices for a sustainable future.