Nancowrie, June 20: A scientist of ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Garacharma visited Nancowrie between 16th to 18th June 2025 and conducted capacity building programmes for Nicobari tribal farmers on “Advanced tuber crop cultivation and value addition”. During the programme, Dr. I. Jaisankar, Senior Scientist (Ago forestry) and Principal Investigator All India Coordinated Research Project on Tuber Crops explained about the Tuber diversity and its conservation practices, organic Tuber crop cultivation, planting and agronomic practices for tuber cultivation, regenerative agriculture, preparation of tuber based feed for Piggery, sweet Potato based product preparation, CIARI technologies and organic waste management and integrated pest and disease management in Tuber crops. Besides the awareness programme on Soil and water conservation techniques for resilient farming during monsoon season in Nicobar Islands under Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva.
Demonstarted and distributed (50 no’s) the Dweep leaf separator to the women farmers and explained the function and method to remove the mid rib from the coconut leaves. The programme was coordinated by Dr. Santosh kumar, Head KVK, Car Nicobar, Dr. Abhilash, Scientist (NRM), and Mr.Talaviya Harshang Kumar, Scientist (NRM). All were given 500 sweet potato rooted cuttings and 500 Tapioca setts. A total of 118 famers from Sanu, Kamorta, Vikas nagar and Bada Enaka and Munak villages of Nancowrie Islands attended the training programme. The whole programme was conducted under the guidance of Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director, CIARI, Sri Vijaya Puram.