CIARI Scientist Trains Nicobari Farmers on Advanced Tuber Crop Cultivation and Value Addition in Nancowrie Islands

Tarun Karthick

Sri Vijaya Puram, 21 June 2025

In a major effort to reinforce agricultural practices amongst tribal farming communities, the ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI), Garacharma, carried out a three-day capacity-building programme on “Advanced Tuber Crop Cultivation and Value Addition” for Nicobari farmers within the Nancowrie Islands from June 16 to 18.

The coaching was led by Dr. I. Jaisankar, Senior Scientist (Agroforestry) and Principal Investigator of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Tuber Crops. The periods lined a broad spectrum of matters, together with tuber crop range and conservation, natural cultivation strategies, agronomic practices, regenerative agriculture, and pest and illness administration in tuber crops.

Farmers had been additionally educated on the preparation of piggery feed utilizing tuber crops, candy potato-based product improvement, CIARI-developed agricultural applied sciences, and natural waste administration. As a part of the programme, an consciousness session was carried out below the Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva initiative on soil and water conservation strategies for resilient farming through the monsoon season in Nicobar.

A hands-on demonstration on using the “Dweep Leaf Separator”—a instrument designed to take away midribs from coconut leaves—was given to ladies farmers. A complete of fifty models had been distributed through the occasion.

Further empowering the contributors, CIARI distributed 500 rooted cuttings of candy potato and 500 tapioca setts to the attending farmers. The coaching programme witnessed energetic participation from 118 tribal farmers representing the villages of Sanu, Kamorta, Vikas Nagar, Bada Enaka, and Munak within the Nancowrie Islands.

The initiative was coordinated by Dr. Santosh Kumar, Head, KVK Car Nicobar; Dr. Abhilash and Mr. Talaviya Harshang Kumar, each Scientists (NRM). The complete programme was held below the steering of Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director, CIARI, Sri Vijaya Puram.