Port Blair, May 17: An introductory meeting between the Scientists and the newly joined General Manger of NABARD, Port Blair Shri V. Mashar was held at ICAR-CIARI on 15.05.2019 under the chairmanship of Dr. A. Kundu, Director, CIARI to appraise the Research & Development activities being under taken by the Institute and its Krishi Vigyan Kendras for the development of agriculture in the Islands.

At the outset, Dr. A. Kundu, Director, CIARI briefed about the genesis of the Institute and its achievements over the years. Shri V. Mashar acknowledged the significance of CIARI being a unique multi-disciplinary Institute of ICAR. With the expertise of CIARI in various aspects of agriculture viz. field crops, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and natural resource management, he called for a systematic collaboration between the two organizations to identify certain broader problem areas of agriculture in the Islands, so that NABARD can help CIARI to upscale its technologies for solving them. He informed that being the National Implementing Entity of Green Climate Fund of UNFCCC, NABARD is keen to support climate change related projects which can enhance the adaptive capacity of farmers and projects promoting organic agriculture in the Islands. He also encouraged the Scientists to submit projects related to agriculture for funding. 

Subsequently, Heads of all Divisions, Section Incharge and Head Incharge of KVK, South Andaman briefed about the ongoing Research and Development programmes of their respective Divisions.  Later, Shri V. Mashar visited the exhibition hall Dweep Krishi Darpan, where Dr. B.A. Jerard, Head of Horticulture & Forestry Division explained the agricultural scenario of the Islands, mandates of the Institute and achievements of all Divisions displayed over there. The programme was coordinated by Dr. R. Jaya Kumaravaradan, Scientist.