Port Blair, Feb 20: ICAR-CIARI in collaboration with the Department of Home Science, JNRM, Port Blair organised a day long workshop on value addition of flowers with special reference to flower arrangement and bouquet making for the students of B.Sc Home Science.

Inaugurating the workshop Dr A. Kundu, Director, CIARI congratulated Shri K. Venkatesan, Assistant Professor & HoD of Home Science for taking efforts to sensitize the students on the various activities of CIARI. He further stated that the scope of entrepreneurship in value addition in flower crops is immense. The students of these islands should get familiarized with the locally available flower crops for economic benefits through value addition. CIARI is always extending support to the stakeholders, farmers and students for organising training programmes in various aspects of agriculture and allied sectors.

Dr V Baskaran, Principal Scientist and course coordinator dealt in detail and practically demonstrated the different aspects of value addition in flower crops like bouquet making, flower arrangement and dry flower arrangement and dry flower card making. He exhorted the students to utilize the potentiality and richness of the island vegetation for their academic interest and employment pursuit.

Shri K. Venkatesan, Assistant Professor & HoD of Home Science thanked Dr A Kundu, Director of CIARI and Dr N Francis Xavier, Principal, JNRM for encouraging the students to get exposure at filed level through this extension activity. JNRM is the Nodal Agency under Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) of MHRD, GoI and students benefitted through this programme can serve as trainers to train the rural women in the adopted villages, he said.

Students were also given hands on experience on bouquet making followed through a Power Point Presentation made by Dr V Baskaran, Principal Scientist and course coordinator and Dr K Abirami, Scientist and course co-coordinator.

Altogether around 52 students with Dr Rekha Kumari and Smt Nitika Garhia, Resource Persons of Home Science Department took part in this programme. This workshop organised under the guidance of Dr A Kundu, Director of CIARI and Dr N Francis Xavier, Principal, JNRM. The entire programme moderated by Dr K Abirami, Scientist and course co-coordinator. 

At the outset Dr Rekha Kumari, Resource Person of Home Science shared her experience on the usage of this workshop. While sharing their experience, the students expressed their full satisfaction and informed the gathering that they will make bouquet on their own and gained knowledge to set up entrepreneurship ventures. Smt Nitika Garhia, Resource Person of Home Science proposed vote of thanks.