Port Blair, Nov. 27: The Department of Home Science, JNRM, in association with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Andaman & Nicobar Islands organised a National Seminar on “Agricultural Transformation and Rural Development in India with special reference to Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Issues, Challenges and Possibilities”. The valedictory function for the seminar was held on 25th November 2022 in seminar room, JNRM where Dr. Ridham Dhirajlal Bhadja, IA&AS, Deputy Director, O/o the Director General of Audit (Central) Kolkata graced the occasion as Chief Guest.
Addressing the gathering Dr. Bhadja congratulated the efforts by the faculty of Home Science and said this topic of deliberation is close to his heart since its related to agriculture and rural development. The researchers should come forward to educate the farmers for crop diversification and technological advancement for making profit in agriculture and allied sectors. The farm economics has changed drastically with the support of various programmes for agri business development activity. The impacts on agricultural production and marketing will bring changes in the rural households, including reduction poverty, unemployment and rural migration, he opined.
Smt. Pramila Kumari, Adhyaksha, Zilla Parishad, South Andaman District informed the gathering that Gardening in the backyard of our houses has changed into kitchen gardening and now there is a shift to Nutrition Gardening. The food and nutrition security should be achieved through agriculture for which this seminar outcome will be highly beneficial, she opined.
Shri S Bhuvarahan, Deputy General Manager, NABARD, Port Blair spoke on the islands potentiality on organic farming and the availability of coconut, arecanut and organic spices. The speakers from various domain has shown the way for scientific farming to boost agriculture transformation in the islands, he added.
Lead Papers on Paradigm Shift of Rural Development from Beneficiary to Community Based Approach was presented by Dr. K.S. Pushpa, Professor & Head, Department of Home Science, Gandhigram Rural Institute. The Role of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) in Rural Development was presented by Dr. S. Kavitha Maithily, Associate Professor, Department of Home Science, Gandhigram Rural Institute.
Dr. H. K. Sharma, Principal, JNRM spoke about the ways and means to achieve and bring prosperity in rural areas. Dr. K.Venkatesan, HOD, Home Science and Convener of the programme spoke on the access to, and use of, digital technology in rural areas for agriculture and farm management in recent times and the role of different technologies in promoting sustainable rural and agricultural development.
Earlier Smt. Nidhi Shekhawat, Assistant Professor welcomed the gathering while Ms. P. Bhuvaneshwari, Resource Person, Department of Home Science proposed vote of thanks. Smt. Poonam Ajay Singh, Resource Person, Department of Home Science moderated the entire programme and Ms. Varsa Lakra has served as Rapporteur.
Altogether 130 participants from ICAR-CIARI, Andaman College, JNRM, NGO, SHGs, farmers, Agricultural field workers and students participated in this programme.