Port Blair, Feb.21: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, GOI, Smt. Krishna Raj arrived here today on a three day visit to the Islands. The Minister visited the Central Island Agriculture Research Institute (CIARI) in the morning and interacted with the scientists in the conference hall. Addressing the scientist fraternity, Smt. Raj expressed happiness about the research activities being carried out by the scientists in these remote Islands. She said, we all have to work together in order to achieve the GoI’s target of doubling the income of the farmers’ by 2022. She said, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Departments have to work in tandem to take the schemes of the Central Govt, to the farming community. In the agriculture and allied sector, we have to uplift the farmers, she remarked.  She underlined the need of taking up cage culture, fresh water fisheries, deep sea fishing, sea weed cultivation etc. The Minister said, sea weed has good market at International level for which she underscored the need for its propagation in larger scale.

The Minster directed the Director of Fisheries to send good proposal for exploring inland fishing & deep sea fishing and other meaningful schemes for the betterment of the fishermen. She also desired that fishermen should be provided with better fishing materials. The Minister also enquired about the implementation of Insurance and Housing Schemes meant for the fishermen community.

The Minister also directed for starting Rashtriya Gokul Mission in these Islands. She asked the concerned officials to prepare a proposal to avail the Gokul Mission scheme launched by the Government of India for conservation and development of indigenous breeds in a focused and scientific manner.  She also visited the ‘Dweep Krishi Darpan’, the exhibition hall-cum Administrative block of CIARI that showcases the various research and development works of CIARI.

Earlier, the Minister planted an Ashoka sapling in the precincts of the CIARI Complex. The Director CIARI, Dr. A Kundu gave an overview of the CIARI and the research activities carried by it since its inception in A&N Islands.

The Minister also visited National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Dollygunj and interacted with the Scientists of NIOT. She also visited the laboratory there.

In the afternoon, the Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare visited Modern Fish Market, Junglighat. The Fish Market is nearing completion and constructed with the financial assistance from the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad. During her visit, the Minister interacted with the Officers of the Department of Fisheries and the Women Fish Vendors who will be actual users of the Fish Market. She expressed her satisfaction for providing such facilities to the Fish Vendors and assured them that the work shall be completed early for its utilization by them. During her visit, Shri Ramesh Verma, Secretary (Fisheries), A&N Administration, Dr. A.Kundu, Director CIARI, Port Blair, Dr. Utpal Kumar Sar, Director of Fisheries and Dr. Sijo P Varghese, Officer-in-charge, Fishery Survey of India, Port Blair were also present.  

Later in the evening, the Minister visited National Memorial Cellular Jail.