Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 15: The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS virtually inaugurated the Copra Drying Unit installed in Progeny Farm, Rama Krishna Pur, Little Andaman, Multipurpose Farm, Perka, HQ ,Car Nicobar, Multipurpose Farm, Kamorta and Industrial Estate, Joginder Nagar, Campbell Bay yesterday in the presence of Ms. Chanchal Yadav, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary(Agri); Shri. Arjun Sharma, IAS, Deputy Commissioner (South Andaman); Ms. Pallavi Sarkar, IAS, Secretary (Agriculture) and other senior officers attending the SOM at Secretariat.
The inaugural event was also attended by Shri Amit Kale, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Nicobar District, Shri Lionald Nicomede, Chairman, Tribal Council, Car Nicobar, Dr Navin Kumar, Assistant Commissioner (HQ),Car Nicobar, Shri Martin Luther, Secretary, Tribal Council and Shri Paul David, 1st Captain, Perka Village in the chamber of Deputy Commissioner, Nicobar District.
The Chief Secretary, while addressing the farming community who had joined the virtual inauguration, emphasized that this is a very important initiative undertaken by the Agriculture Department. He stressed that it requires proper handholding through regular recording of electricity consumption, imparting of training, and close monitoring of all activities carried out in the Unit. The Chief Secretary also directed to follow all the safety aspects and ensure all the protocols as per the Standard Operating Procedure on how and who operates it should be carefully followed.
The Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Agri) informed that the Department has to ensure monthly reporting on the output of copra and other aspects. She further suggested for its packaging & branding and encouraged to diversify into other by products such as coconut sugar to which Deputy Commissioner, Car Nicobar informed that the community is being promoted to form Farmer Producer Organization (FPO).
During the inauguration, the Secretary (Agriculture) briefed about the four locations where these Units have been established with an installed capacity of 2000 nuts along with a Vacuum Packaging Machine. Accordingly, the inaugural video was telecast depicting the locations and the processing involved in the Copra Drying and Vacuum Packaging Unit.
The Deputy Commissioner, Nicobar District in his address apprised about the local committee that has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Assistant Commissioner (HQ), Car Nicobar for identification and selection of Self- Help Group for running the Copra Drying Unit.
The Secretary, Tribal Council, Car Nicobar expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Administration for establishing the unit at Car Nicobar for the benefit of farming community.
At Little Andaman, the event witnessed active participation from distinguished representatives of the tribal community, including Shri Andrew Mosses, 1st Captain, Tribal Council, Harminder Bay; Shri Festus Nathaniel, Secretary, Tribal Council, Harminder Bay; Shri Ashamanja Halder, Zilla Parishad Member, R.K. Pur; Smt. Seuli Mondal, Pradhan, R.K. Pur; Shri Anjan Biswas, Chairman, PACS, R.K. Pur; Shri Nirmal Mondal, Member, PACS, Netaji Nagar; and the Assistant Director (Agriculture), Little Andaman.
At Kamorta, the event witnessed active participation from Smt. Aysha Majid (CTC, Nancowry), Shri Charles Jacob (CTC, Kamorta), Smt. Elizabeth (1st Captain, Hitui), Shri Moses Stanly (1st Captain, Chota Enaka), Shri Tanveer Hussain (1st Captain, Pilpillow), Shri Ashique Hussain (Branch Manager, Nancowry), Shri Israel (Forest Department), as well as staff and ATMA functionaries of the Department of Agriculture.
At Campbell Bay, the inauguration programme was witnessed by Shri E.S. Rajesh, Pramukh, Panchayat Samiti, Campbell Bay, and Shri Sanjay Ekka, Up-Pramukh, along with other PRI members, SHG members, and farmers of Joginder Nagar. The Pramukh stated that the copra dryer and vacuum packaging machine installed at Campbell Bay will be highly beneficial for the farmers of Laxmi Nagar and Govind Nagar Panchayats, enabling them to produce high-quality copra and obtain better market prices for their produce.
The event concluded with the live interaction with the farmers who joined through the VC.