Sri Vijaya Puram, June 3: As part of the nationwide initiative “Khet Bachao Abhiyan”, the ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CIARI), Sri Vijaya Puram, conducted a Consultation Meeting for Input Dealers and Stakeholders regarding the Balanced Use of Fertilizers on June 3, 2026. This event convened input dealers, scientists, and officials from the Department of Agriculture, CIPMC and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to discuss sustainable agricultural practices and the management of soil health in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
In his welcoming address, Dr. Y. Ramakrishna, Principal Scientist and Head, highlighted the significance of effective collaboration among stakeholders to advance balanced nutrient management and sustainable farming practices within the Islands.
Dr. Debabrata Basantia, Director of Agriculture, A & N Administration, highlighted the objectives of the “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” and stressed the importance of balanced use of fertilizers for maintaining soil health and ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability. He stated that the month-long campaign aims to strengthen farmers’ awareness and promote sustainable agricultural practices by providing practical information and technical guidance directly at the village level through the joint efforts of ICAR-CIARI, KVKs, ATMA, and the Department of Agriculture. He expressed confidence that the campaign would create a significant positive impact among the farming community.
An open-house discussion was held among input dealers, stakeholders, scientists, and officials of the Department of Agriculture. Several important recommendations emerged during the deliberations. Participants emphasized the judicious use of fertilizers and bio-pesticides to conserve soil health and advocated greater adoption of biocontrol agents. It was suggested that the Department of Agriculture could produce Trichoderma-based bio-control formulations with technical guidance from ICAR-CIARI. The meeting also proposed establishing block-level seed collection centres, where quality seeds produced by farmers could be procured and distributed through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), while ICAR-CIARI would provide breeder and parent seed materials.
Scientists informed the gathering that ICAR-CIARI has developed quality vegetable varieties, including Brinjal-1 and Brinjal-2, which are wilt-resistant, high-yielding, and well-suited to the island ecosystem. The importance of pulse-based crop rotation was highlighted for improving soil fertility and enriching soil nitrogen levels. The Institute also possesses quality rice breeder seed suitable for island conditions and Bio-Consortia strains that could be multiplied and distributed to farmers through the Department of Agriculture.
The participants appreciated the Department’s efforts in promoting natural farming demonstrations at farmers’ fields. ICAR-CIARI assured support through capacity-building programmes and training on Integrated Pest Management (IPM), including the use of pheromone traps, which are effective and environmentally friendly tools for pest monitoring and management. It was suggested that FPOs could play a key role in promoting such technologies among farmers. Here is a polished version: Dr. M. Ranjit, APPO, CIPMC, highlighted the need to reduce the excessive use of chemical pesticides for managing insect pests. He recommended the use of the biofungicide Isaria fumosorosea for the effective management of Rugose Spiralling Whitefly (RSW) in coconut. He also suggested the release of the parasitoid Encarsia guadeloupae as an eco-friendly and effective biological control agent against RSW. For the management of papaya mealybug, he recommended the utilization of the parasitoid Acerophagus papayae, which has proven highly effective in horticultural ecosystems and contributes to sustainable pest management.
In his valedictory address, Dr. Jai Sunder, Director, ICAR-CIARI, urged the Department of Agriculture to clearly demarcate and document the total area under natural farming and initiate certification processes to enhance market opportunities for farmers. He also emphasized the potential role of FPOs in producing quality seeds locally to meet the seed requirements of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Dr. Jai Sunder further advocated the establishment of community-based vermicomposting units utilizing cow dung, cow urine, goat manure, and poultry manure available in villages. He stressed the need to prepare vulnerability maps of El Niño-affected areas in the Islands to support climate-resilient agricultural planning. He also recommended the promotion of arecanut husk mat structures for weed management, moisture conservation, mulching, and erosion control. Establishing community-based water harvesting structures for efficient water sharing during drought situations was also suggested as a key climate adaptation measure.
The consultation meeting concluded with a strong commitment from all stakeholders to work together towards sustainable agriculture, soil health restoration, and climate-resilient farming systems in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands under the ongoing “Khet Bachao Abhiyan”.