Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug 26: On the 25th and 26th of October 2025, 260 students from the Govt. Girls Senior Secondary School, accompanied by ten teachers, participated in research activities at the Garacharma Research Complex of ICAR-CIARI in Port Blair. The event began with an interaction between Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, the Director of ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair, and the students.
Shri Chittaranjan Raul, a Scientist, provided an overview of the freshwater ornamental fishes unit and the advantages of fish spas. Miss Shivani Kumari, a Technician, presented the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Medicinal Garden, which boasts a wide array of therapeutic plants aimed at enhancing awareness of the region’s biodiversity and agricultural methods. She also highlighted the Nakshatra Garden, which features plant species inspired by celestial themes.
Dr. P. K. Singh, Principal Scientist, along with Dr. Prabhu P, Scientist, discussed the objectives of conducting experiments in a controlled environment within microplots. He elaborated on the advantages of these controlled microplots, which often incorporate artificial salinity, to evaluate salt-tolerant rice varieties by applying specific salt concentrations to the soil and monitoring their performance. These structures, constructed with reinforced concrete cement (RCC) walls, facilitate precise salt management and provide a better simulation of natural conditions for assessing salt tolerance in various rice genotypes, helping to identify superior salt-tolerant varieties.
Before the activities commenced, Shri D. Karunakaran, a scientist, welcomed the group and outlined the institute’s contributions to agricultural advancement in the islands. The visit was organized by Shri D. Karunakaran, Scientist, in collaboration with Smt. Asma Bibi, Senior Technical Assistant, Shri Ali Akbar, Technician, and Mr. C. P. Vijayan, Young Professional-1 from the Agricultural Knowledge Management Unit, all under the leadership and guidance of Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, Director of ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.