Port Blair, Sept. 28: Rice is an important crop grown during Kharif season in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Improved varieties and quality seed has played a very vital role in enhancing yield and productivity. In this regard, ICAR-CIARI has developed eight high yielding varieties for the island conditions, out of which CIARI Dhan 4 and 5 are salt tolerant varieties whereas, CARI Dhan 6 and 7 are resistant to Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB). These rice varieties cafeteria are demonstrated at Bloomsdale Research Farm as Nucleus, Breeder, MAGIC lines and advance lines of BLB for providing opportunities to the farmers, and other stakeholders for its upscaling.
With the above objectives of upscaling, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute conducted a “Field day on Improved Paddy Varieties and its upscaling under AICRP on Seed (crop) project” at Bloomsdale Research Farm of CIARI at Chouldari on 27-09-2022. Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar Director, ICAR-CIARI exhorted the farmers to go for proper selection of crop varieties, advocated diversified farming, value addition so that income of the farmers is enhanced in longer run. He was confident that exposure to different technological options in agriculture and allied field which is established at Garacharma Farm will give options for better livelihood.
Speaking on the occasion, Guest of Honour, Smti. Taposi Saha, Pradhan Chouldari Panchayat appreciated the efforts of CIARI and requested the farmers to take the maximum benefit of the knowledge and crop varieties developed. Shri. Navashakti, Agriculture Officer and Smti. Chaitali Roy, Panchayat Samiti Member also spoke on this occasion.
Dr. P. K. Singh, Principal Scientist, briefed about CIARI Rice varieties, types of seed and advance rice research being carried out at CIARI for rice improvement.
Dr. S. K. Zamir Ahmed, Principal Scientist & In-Charge of Social Science of ICAR-CIARI highlighted about the Importance of Rice varieties developed by the Scientific team of CIARI and its benefit extended during the pandemic period through Agriculture Department A&N Administration.
Dr. Y. Ramakrishna, Head, KVK, Sippighat advocated about the importance of micronutrients application in rice. Farmers were exposed to Garacharma Research Complex and in continuation of the feedback obtained during the field day, one training, cum awareness programme on Paddy Cultivation in Rainfed lowland was organised on 28.09.2022.
A total of 80 people comprising of 25 Scientists of CIARI, 4 SMS from ICAR-KVK, Sippighat, Nimbudera and 35 farmers from North & Middle Andaman and South Andaman and officials from Department of Agriculture attended the programme. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Shri. K. Shyam Sundar Rao, Farm Manager, Bloomsdale Farm. The programme was coordinated by the team comprising of Dr. P. K. Singh, Dr. S.K. Zamir Ahmed, Dr. Y. Ramakrishna, Er. Manoj Kumar and Mr. K. Shyam Sundar Rao under the plan and guidance of Dr. E. B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI.