Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 24: A group of 60 teachers from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands visited ICAR-CIARI on 23 September 2026 as part of the Practical Skill Training Programme for Master Trainers in Vocational Education. The skill-based learning component of the programme was focused on the domain “Work with Life Form,” with an emphasis on practical exposure and experiential learning. During the visit, the teachers were provided opportunities to gain hands-on knowledge related to nature, plants, agriculture, gardening, plant care, animal care, and other allied agricultural activities, thereby enhancing their practical understanding and skills for effective vocational education and training.
Dr. Prokasananda Bala, I/c Head, Animal Science Division, along with Dr. Rafeeque Rahman Alyethodi, Senior Scientist, and Dr. Perumal P., Senior Scientist, provided hands-on training to the participants on various aspects of animal science and allied agricultural practices. The training included practical demonstrations on animal biometry, vaccination, estimation of animal body weight, egg handling, and lactometer reading of milk. The participants were also introduced to the low-cost brooder system and biosecurity measures, along with demonstrations on fodder field management, the concept of balanced feed, and proximate analysis of food samples. The practical sessions provided valuable experiential learning and enhanced the participants’ understanding of scientific and cost-effective approaches to animal husbandry and livestock management.
Dr. Ajit Arun Waman, Senior Scientist, provided the participants with detailed information on underutilized fruits and their potential importance in horticulture and livelihood development. He also explained various grafting techniques and demonstrated their practical application at the Horticulture Propagation Unit. The session provided participants with hands-on exposure to plant propagation practices and enhanced their understanding of the conservation, multiplication, and utilization of diverse fruit crops for sustainable horticultural production.
On 24 September 2026, a group of 70 students from Classes VIII, IX and XI of Kamaraj English Medium School, Sri Vijaya Puram, visited ICAR-CIARI with the objective of gaining knowledge and awareness about biodiversity, sustainable agriculture and various allied agricultural practices. During the visit, the students interacted with scientists and received valuable insights through informative discussions and practical demonstrations. Dr. M. Muruganandam, Head, Fisheries Science Division, briefed the students on fish biodiversity and its importance in aquatic ecosystems. Dr. Ajit Arun Waman, Senior Scientist, explained the diversity of horticultural crops and medicinal plants, highlighting their significance for sustainable agriculture and human well-being. Dr. Gurunath Reddy, Scientist, interacted with the students on integrated farming systems, vermicomposting and the recycling of farm resources, emphasizing the efficient utilization of available resources with minimal external inputs. Dr. Abhilash, Scientist, explained the functioning and importance of the meteorological station and its role in agricultural planning and decision-making. The students also gained an understanding of ecosystems, their interrelationships, plant propagation techniques and the importance of biodiversity conservation. The visit provided an enriching and interactive learning experience, helping the students connect classroom concepts with practical applications in agriculture, environment and natural resource management.
The programme was coordinated by Shri D. Karunakaran, Scientist and In-charge, Agricultural Knowledge Management Unit, with the support of Smt. Asma Bibi, Senior Technical Assistant, Shri Ali Akbar, Technician, and Mr. C. P. Vijayan, Young Professional-I, under the leadership and guidance of Dr. Jai Sunder, Director, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.