Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 26 August 2025
A total of 260 students from the Govt. Girls Senior Secondary School, along with ten teachers, visited the Garacharma Research Complex of ICAR–Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI), Port Blair, on October 25 and 26, 2025, as part of an educational exposure programme.
The programme began with an interactive session between the Director of ICAR-CIARI, Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, and the visiting students. Welcoming the group, Mr. D. Karunakaran, Scientist, briefed them about the institute’s ongoing contributions to agricultural development in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
During the visit, the students were introduced to various research units and facilities. Mr. Chittaranjan Raul, Scientist, explained the freshwater ornamental fishes unit and highlighted the benefits of fish spas. Miss Shivani Kumari, Technician, presented the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Medicinal Garden, which showcases a diverse collection of therapeutic plants, and the Nakshatra Garden, designed around celestial themes to promote awareness of biodiversity.
Dr. P.K. Singh, Principal Scientist, along with Dr. Prabhu P., Scientist, explained the use of microplots in conducting controlled experiments. They highlighted how RCC-walled structures with artificial salinity are used to evaluate salt-tolerant rice varieties, enabling researchers to identify genotypes that can thrive in challenging environments.
The exposure visit was coordinated by Mr. D. Karunakaran, Scientist, in collaboration with Ms. Asma Bibi, Senior Technical Assistant, Mr. Ali Akbar, Technician, and Mr. C.P. Vijayan, Young Professional-I from the Agricultural Knowledge Management Unit, under the guidance of Dr. Chakurkar.
The initiative provided students with hands-on insights into scientific research and the role of agricultural innovations in ensuring sustainable farming in the islands.
