Port Blair, Feb 15: A three day’s exposure visit cum training programme on “Quality Seed and Planting Material in Agri-horticultural Crops for Nicobarese Tribal Farmers” was organized at ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair during February 7th to 9th, 2024. The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair in the presence of Course Director Dr. P. K. Singh, Principal Scientist and Head (-I/c), Division of Horticulture and Crop Improvement and Course Coordinators Dr. Pooja Bohra and Dr. Ajit Waman.
At the inaugural speech, the Director appealed to all the trainees to take maximum benefit from the programme learning the latest of quality seed and planting material in agri-horticultural crops in the context of Island agriculture. He emphasized on methods of producing quality seeds, their post-harvest handling and storage.
Dr. Pooja Bohra arranged a field visit of the participants to various mother blocks of horticultural crops to orient them about the significant of selecting right mother plants and their management. Subsequently, Dr. Ajit Waman provided the trainees with hands on experience and demonstration on various methods of propagation at the Horticultural Plants Propagation Unit of the Institute.
The trainees paid a visit to the Bloomsdale Farm Chouldhari wherein the Farm Manager briefed them about the seed production and storage techniques in rice and pulses, utility of Broad Bed Furrow System, types of farm machineries and their uses. The trainees also visited the Vegetable Research Blocks, wherein they were demonstrated with various techniques of vegetable cultivation.
On the last day of the training, trainees were taken to the Horticultural Research Farm, Sippighat where Dr. Ajit Waman showed the nursery and production techniques of coconut, arecanut and spices.
At the valedictory programme, Farmers–Scientists interaction was held in which issues faced in the farming by the tribal farmers were discussed in the presence of Director, ICAR-CIARI and the organizing team. This was followed by distribution of planting material and farm inputs. The programme concluded with the vote of thanks by Dr. P. K. Singh, Mr. Andrew Moses, First Headman, Harminder Bay, Little Andaman along with ten tribal farmers participated in the training programme.