Port Blair, July 29: A day-old awareness programme on “Doubling the farmer’s income through Agri/Horti/animal/fisheries technologies” was organised at Mithakhari Gram Panchayat Hall on 27.07.2019 under the Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav Schme of ICAR-CIARI in collaboration with AICRP on goat improvement project and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, South Andaman. Altogether 35 farmers including 21 lady farmers have participated in the awareness programme. The programme was inaugurated by Mr Mohammad Shaffique, Pradhan, Mithakhari Gram Panchayat in presence of Dr. A. Kundu, Director, CIARI, Dr. L.B.Singh, Head, KVK, Mr Rajendar Pal, BDO, Dr. Jai Sunder, Pr. Scientist, Dr. S. Swain, Dr. Srividhya, Ms S.M.Ajina, MrSchemeadston, Dr. Z. George, Dr N.C.Chowdhury and PRI members.
Mr Mohammad Shaffique, the Pradhan thanked the CIARI and KVK for organising such type of programme for the benefit of the farmers of Mithakhari panchayat. He urged all the farmers to utilize the opportunity for improving the productivity and doubling the income through adopting the technologies developed by the CIARI and KVK. Mr Rajendar Pal spoke about the various developmental schemes of the Government and resulted in the Pradhan to implement all the schemes for the overall development of his panchayat. He also urged the farmers to conserve the water and informed about the Jalshakti programme.
Dr A. Kundu highlighted the various technologies developed by the institute for doubling of the farmer’s income with the available resources. He appreciated the interest of the farmers in adopting various technologies as a livelihood and as an income generation option. He informed that in future more training programmes on different livelihood option for livestock farming, poultry farming, mushroom cultivation, IFS, etc will be organised. He also stressed on the formation of a cooperative society for systematic implementation and to avail various facilities through the society. He also stressed on adopting water conservation measures under the Jal Shakthi Abhiyan Programme.
Dr L.B.Singh highlighted about the various schemes and programmes of the KVK for the welfare of the farming community. He urged the pradhan to send at least 15-20 farmers every week to the KVK to get more information about the various schemes for agricultural development. He also informed about the RKVY scheme, jalshakti, vertical farming, mushroom cultivation, vermicomposting etc. Later during the technical session, Dr Jai Sunder talked about the benefit of goat farming and how to improve productivity through scientific goat farming and management practices. He also replied to the various queries raised by the farmers about the problems of livestock and poultry farming. Dr Swain spoke about the post-harvest and value addition of the coconut, spices and other horticultural produces and also urged the farmers to attend the training programme to be organised during the month of August at CIARI. Dr Srividhya gave detail information about the suitable crops to be grown during the monsoon season, its management practices, integrated nutrient and pest management. Mr Gladston and Ms Ajina talked about the prospects of freshwater fisheries and assured to supply the fish fingerlings for the farmers. Pamphlets on scientific goat farming. Mineral mixtures were also distributed among the farmers during the programme. The whole programme was coordinated by Dr Z. Geroge and vote of thanks were proposed by Dr N.C. Chowdhury.