Baratang, July 10: ICAR–Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CIARI), Sri Vijaya Puram, in collaboration with KVK, North and Middle Andaman and the Department of Agriculture, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, organized an Awareness and Training Programme on “Climate-Resilient Rice Cultivation in Salt-Affected Soils” at Adazig Gram Panchayat, Baratang, on 9 July 2026.
A total of 44 farmers (28 men and 16 women) participated in the programme. The training focused on climate-resilient rice production technologies for salt-affected soils, including the cultivation of salt-tolerant rice varieties, nursery management, nutrient and water management, integrated pest management, and other climate-smart practices.
During the programme, 2.5 quintals (250 kg) of Truthfully Labelled (TFL) seed of Dweep Dhan 5, a salt-tolerant rice variety developed by ICAR-CIARI, was distributed to 50 farmers (5 kg each). The seed is expected to cover about 8 hectares of salt-affected lowland rice fields in the Baratang area.
The programme was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Jai Sunder, Director, ICAR-CIARI. Dr. P. K. Singh, Principal Scientist, served as the Course Director, while Dr. Y. Ramakrishna, Head, KVK South Andaman, and Dr. Debabrata Basantia, Director of Agriculture, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, served as Course Coordinators. The programme was facilitated by Shri K. Shyam Sunder Rao and Mr. Bikash Chand Mondal.
During the technical sessions, Dr. P. K. Singh highlighted the importance of adopting salt-tolerant rice varieties and climate-resilient technologies to enhance productivity in salt-affected areas. Dr. Y. Ramakrishna delivered a lecture on improved agronomic practices for rice cultivation under saline conditions. The programme was efficiently coordinated at the local level by Shri C. Murugan, Agriculture Field Assistant.
The programme concluded with an appeal to farmers to adopt climate-resilient technologies and improved rice varieties to enhance productivity, strengthen food security, and build resilience in the agriculture of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.