Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 22 January 2025
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Food Processing conducted a study tour of the ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CIARI) from January 19-21, 2024. The visit aimed to review the institute’s performance and evaluate the progress of the “National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology.”
The delegation, chaired by Mr. Charanjit Singh Channi, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, included 13 other parliamentarians: Mr. Ramji Lal Suman, Mr. Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure, Dr. Anil Sukhdeorao Bonde, Mr. Sudhakar Singh, Ms. Krishna Devi Shivshankar Patel, Ms. Ramilaben Becharbhai Bara, Mr. Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi, Mr. Banshilal Gurjar, Mr. Nitin Laxmanrao Jadhav Patil, Mr. P.P. Suneer, Mr. Patel Umeshbhai Babubhai, Ms. Anita Nagarsingh Chouhan, and Ms. Geniben Nagaji Thakor. The delegation was led by Mr. Khakhai Zou, Secretary to the Delegation, alongside other officials.
Senior officials from ICAR headquarters, including Dr. S.K. Singh (Deputy Director General, Horticultural Sciences) and Dr. V.B. Patel (Assistant Director General, Fruits & Plantation Crops), participated in the review. Representatives from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, also attended, including Mr. Samuel Praveen Kumar (Joint Secretary, Extension), Dr. Venu Prasad (Joint Director, Extension), Mr. Anil Kumar Meena (Under Secretary), and Mr. Ajai Kumar Yadav (Director, Regional Fodder Station, Chennai). A&N Administration was represented by Dr. Apurva Sharma (Director, Agriculture) and Dr. K.A. Naveen (Director, Animal Husbandry).
Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, Director of ICAR-CIARI, highlighted the institute’s achievements and ongoing initiatives. He emphasized the collaborative development and extension activities undertaken with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and regional stations to support island farmers. The delegation explored ICAR-CIARI’s advanced facilities, including the spice-based plantation system, the World Coconut Germplasm Centre at Sippighat Farm, and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in South Andaman. Other points of interest included the agro-ecotourism farm, herbal garden, ornamental fish breeding unit, Nakshatra Garden, horticulture plant propagation unit, modern dairy and goat units, duck unit, and fodder plots.
The committee members also participated in planting saplings of improved coconut varieties and viewed exhibits showcasing the institute’s technologies, crop varieties, value-added products, and conserved germplasm. The delegation interacted with progressive farmers and entrepreneurs, including Padma Shri awardee Ms. K. Chellamel, Mr. Chintaharan Biswas (creator of the “Chinta Mango” variety), Ms. Rajeswari and Ms. Meenakshi (poultry farmers), tribal farmers from the Nicobar Islands, and Ms. Nitu Sindhu, a mushroom entrepreneur.
The visit concluded with valuable insights into ICAR-CIARI’s contributions to sustainable agricultural development and technological advancements, ensuring enhanced livelihood opportunities for the farming community in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.