Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 13 August 2025
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS), Andaman and Nicobar Administration, in collaboration with the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), organized a two-day training programme on “Fodder Cultivation” at the Panchayat Community Hall, Vivekananda Pur, Little Andaman, on August 12 and 13, 2025. The programme aimed to enhance livestock productivity by introducing farmers to scientific fodder production methods suited to local agricultural conditions.
The training was inaugurated by Mr. Parimal Mondal, Pradhan of Vivekananda Pur, who served as the chief guest. Addressing the gathering, he stressed the importance of controlled intercropping techniques for fodder cultivation, noting that the predominance of arecanut plantations in the area poses challenges to fodder grass growth due to interference with arecanut collection. He urged farmers to adopt controlled intercropping practices and appealed to the AH&VS Department to supply poultry and duck inputs from Panchayat Bhavan, highlighting the difficulties farmers face in sourcing them from Nanjappa Nagar.
Earlier, the Senior Veterinary Officer of Hut Bay delivered the welcome address, underlining the crucial role of fodder production in ensuring livestock health and enhancing productivity in the islands.
As part of the programme, participants received hands-on training, reading materials, plastic buckets, and Super Napier fodder cuttings to support field-level implementation. Technical sessions covered soil preparation, seed selection, and intercropping strategies, with practical demonstrations to reinforce learning.
The initiative is part of the AH&VS Department’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable animal husbandry across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. With encouraging participation from local farmers, the department plans to extend such training programmes to other regions, in line with the Administration’s vision for sustainable rural development. (Story Based on PR)
