Port Blair, July 14: Post COVID-19 lockdown, farmers of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have started preparation for the kharif season, wherein they are expected to grow high yielding varieties of paddy in the lowland area and plantation, spices, fruits and vegetables in mid and upland area, Indian Major Carp (IMC) fishes in farm ponds besides rearing livestock.
Keeping in view of the MHA guidelines on preventive measures to be adopted while undertaking any activities benefiting the farmers, CIARI has proposed to launch an “Outreach Programme for Island farmers under COVID-19 arena” in collaboration with All India Radio, Port Blair from 16thJuly 2020 in commemoration of 92nd Foundation day of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), its parent organization. The programme is funded by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare under the Central Sector Scheme “Mass Media Support to Agriculture Extension - Kisanvani”.
The highlight of the programme is to guide the farmers/stakeholders to have a good enterprise of crop-livestock-poultry-fish with backward and forward linkage in a systematic manner following scientific know-how and do-how.Dr. S.K. Zamir Ahmed, Principal Scientist will act as the Nodal Officer of the programme coordinated by Dr. R. Jaya Kumaravaradan, Scientist and Shri Shibu George, Programme Executive, All India Radio under the Chairmanship of Dr. B.A. Jerard, Director, CIARI.
Experts from CIARI, KVK, Development Departments, NABARD and progressive farmers will deliberate on various aspects of agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and animal husbandry, natural resource management, value addition, experience sharing of successful farmers and role of collaborative partners viz. NABARD, Development Departments in furthering the cause of agriculture for the benefit of farmers/stakeholders across all the three districts of the Islands.
The programme will be broad casted every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 06.00 PM in KisanVani programme and farmers are requested to get benefitted and send their feedback to the Director, CIARI and Station Director, All India Radio, Port Blair.