Port Blair, Sept 25: As a part of a series of capacity-building prpograme under Scheduled Tribe Component, ICAR-CIARI in collaboration with KVK Nicobar and ICAR-IIWBR, Karnal conducted a capacity-building programme on 22ndt Sep 2022 at Perka village, Car Nicobar.
Mr. Paul David (First Headman) and the Chief Guest expressed their gratitude to ICAR-CIARI and KVK for conducting such type of capacity-building programs for the overall benefit and development of their community. Dr. Satyavir Singh, Principal Scientist, and Dr. Anil Khippal, Principal Scientist from ICAR-IIWBR, Karnal stressed the importance of barley and millets and advised the farmers to adopt the technologies. Mr. T. Joy, Agriculture Officer of the Department of Agriculture highlighted the need of adopting mixed farming, use of Jeevan Amrit, making of vermicompost, and utilization of vegetable seed kits for the kitchen garden.Dr. Y. Ramakrishna, Principal Scientist, and Head spoke on the role of KVK and possible technological intervention with the scientific support of his team in coconut crop and value addition for better remuneration. Dr. S.K. Zamir Ahmed, Principal Scientist impressed upon taking up Nutritious kitchen gardening with vegetable seeds in the top verandah of the shelter with seedlings of vegetable seeds in grow bags, and pots so that the fruits can be utilized for family consumption. The team exhorted the farming community of Perka village to start a small Nutritious kitchen garden either by a single farmer or within a group to set an example for others to follow. The farmers also interacted with the scientific team and got their doubts cleared. A set of vegetable seeds comprising HYV of Bhendi, Amaranthus, and cowpea were distributed. A total of 55 farmers attended the programme. The programme was coordinated by Dr. S.K.Zamir Ahmed, Dr. Y. Rama Krishna & Dr. Jayakumara Varadan under the supervision of Dr. E.B. Chakurkar Director ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.