Port Blair, Sep 04: World Coconut Day under the theme “Growing coconut for a better future and life was celebrated by Regional Station, ICAR- CIARIat Minicoy, Lakshadweep” on 02nd September 2022with participation of staff, farmers, representatives of SHG, representative of department and villages at its regional campus.
Speaking on the inaugural occasion, the chief guest Dr. Shrikant R. Tapdiya, the Deputy Collector Minicoy and guest of honour Mr. Hassan Koya, Executive Officer, Village Dweep Panchayat, Minicoy, expressed their happiness on the celebration of the day by displaying coconut accessions, value added products from coconut and nursery development activities of the station.
The team of ICAR-CIARI, Regional Station, Minicoymade an exhibition on 15 coconut germplasm namely SS Apricot, Java, Andaman Ordinary, Philippines Ordinary, West coast Tall, Cochin China, Gangabondam, Fiji, Benaulin, Chowghat Green Drawf, Malayan Yellow Dwarf, Chowghat Orange Drawf, Laccadive Ordinary, Laccadive Micro and Laccadive Mini Micro accessions present in its farm. Besides the traditional thirteen value-added products made from coconut like Fenvarabondi, Kibalis, Kirufolla, Huni hakurufoli, Modelangan, Ingiliharu, Hakurufolla, Fuvveriappan, Haruappan, Dhiguappan, Coconut ladu, Coconut oil and Virgin coconut oil were displayed during the occasion. The neera collection box was also demonstrated to the farmers. As a token to mark the day five coconut seedlings were distributed to the rural youth farming community of Minicoy.
The scientific team comprising of Dr.Gladston Y. Scientist in-chargeICAR-CIARI, RS, MinicoyandDr.Ajina S. M. Scientistinteracted with the farmers and made awareness of good management practices for coconut cultivation, preparation of value-added products from coconut and ICAR-CIARI technologies for adoption at farmer’s level of the islander. A total of 65 farmers, 12 staff and 4officials participated in the programme.
Dr.Gladston Y, Convener, Dr.Ajina S. M., Mr.Shareefuddeen Hassan, Senior Technical Assistant, Mr. Arif. M.I Senior Technician, Co-Conveners and the Nodal Officer, Lakshadweep, Dr. S.K Zamir Ahmed coordinated the overall conduct of programme under the Chairmanship of Dr.Eaknath B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.