Car Nicobar, July 27: Admiral DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd), Hon'ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice Chairman, Islands Development Agency inaugurated the Copra Procurement-2023 under the Price Support Scheme under PM-AASHA at a function organized at the Priyadarshini Indoor Stadium, Tamaloo, Car Nicobar this morning. Price Support Scheme under the Umbrella Scheme 'Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan'-(PM-AASHA) provides Minimum Support Price to farmers for their produce in a particular season. The Hon'ble Lt. Governor lighted the traditional oil lamp marking the inauguration of the copra procurement, in the presence of the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Keshav Chandra, Secretary, Agriculture, Dr. Satyendra Singh Dursawat, Secretary (Cooperation)-cum-RCS, Smti Ranjana Deswal, Chairman, Tribal Council, Car Nicobar, Shri Lionel Nicomede, Chairperson, Tribal Council, Nancowrie, Smti Ayesha Majid, senior officers of the Administration, village captains and people of Car Nicobar.
Addressing the gathering, the Hon'ble Lt. Governor congratulated the people of Car Nicobar on the inauguration of copra procurement through the Price Support Scheme aiming towards the progress and prosperity of the farmers in this 'Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal'.
"PM-AASHA" i.e. 'Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan', launched under the dynamic leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, is an important step in increasing the farmers' income by providing fair value to the farmers for their hard work. This campaign will be especially beneficial for copra farmers, especially the Nicobarese tribal community, as coconut is the main crop of our Islands. Under this campaign, Copra farmers will be registered in the e-Samridhi portal of NAFED, said the Lt. Governor.
The Lt. Governor further said, as a result of the continuous efforts of the Administration, the Central Government has approved the procurement of 3,000 MT, Fair Average Quality (FAQ) Copra from the farmers of these Islands during the marketing season-2023 at the Minimum Support Price of Rs. 10,860 per quintal. For this, Central Nodal Agency NAFED and 3 State-Level Supporters (SLS) Cooperative Societies ANCOFED, TDCS and EHL are working in the Isles. In the current marketing session, for the 15% of the targeted quantity of Copra i.e. Revolving Fund of Rs 4.89 crore will be credited to the bank accounts of these SLS very soon, he said.
The Lt. Governor stated that keeping in view the convenience of the farmers, the employees of Agriculture Department have been trained in various Islands for copra quality certification and NAFED has appointed CWC officer in Port Blair for quality analysis and FAQ certification of Copra in the current marketing session-2023. Also, procurement centers and warehousing facilities have been identified. Logistic arrangements for copra procurement, transportation from inter-islands to Port Blair and Port Blair to Chennai and proper warehousing facilities at Port Blair are being ensured in coordination with all concerned Departments, said the Lt. Governor.
Pointing that earlier, farmers had to sell Copra at Rs 40-50 per kg, the Lt. Governor expressed happiness that with the implementation of Copra Procurement Scheme under PSS, now with more than 100 percent increase in the price of Copra to Rs.108.60 per kg, the socio-economic condition of the farmers, including increase in their income,will improve.
The Lt. Governor appreciated the Agriculture Department, RCS Deptt., NAFED and all the stakeholders including the three State-Level Supporter Cooperative Societies and farmers for their invaluable contribution in taking this campaign to the Southern-most region of India. He reiterated the commitment of the Administration towards realizing the dream of 'Developed India'- 'Viksit Bharat' of the Hon'ble Prime Minister, and towards the prosperity and advancement of the farmers and development of the Islands.
The Lt. Governor advised the farmers involved in coconut farming to pay special attention to the methods and techniques while cultivating coconut. While mentioning that Copra production is a labour intensive and time consuming activity, the Lt. Governor said, increase in productivity and improvement in quality can be achieved if due attention is paid while coconut farming. The A&N Islands has huge potential of coconut farming, he said urging the farmers to use new technology for enhancement of coconut yield, which will ultimately fetch much better remuneration to the farmers. The Lt. Governor also appreciated the cultural programme presented by the youth of Car Nicobar.
In his address on the occasion, the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Keshav Chandra, IAS, said the inauguration of Copra Procurement could be possible due to the constant efforts and guidance of the Hon'ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands. The Copra Procurement, which was stopped since last 10 years, has been started under Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan' (PM-AASHA) which is an umbrella scheme to ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers. The Price for copra for current year 2023 is Rs. 108.60 per kg which is double from the procurement rate in the local market, he said.
The Chief Secretary further stated that the A&N Administration has vigorously taken up the issue of copra procurement with Govt. Agencies. He urged the people to ensure the continuation of this scheme in the larger interest of the farmers of these Islands and asked the state agencies- ANCOFED, TDS and EHL to work with utmost responsibility in the procurement of copra as the livelihood of many poor farmers is solely dependent on this single crop.
Pointing that new technology is also available for copra processing, drying and its packaging, the Chief Secretary said, based on the local innovation of copra processing by a Campbell Bay farmer, the A&N Administration will involve the Engineering College of the Isles to prepare a model unit in Car Nicobar for the awareness of the Nicobari Community. "We have to enhance the quality of copra so that it withstands all the quality parameters”, said the Chief Secretary urging the Tribal Council Members to educate the farmers and the members of their community to adopt new copra processing technology so that they get best remunerative price for their produce. The Chief Secretary informed that A&N Administration has taken up with the Agriculture Secretary in the Ministry for allowing the transportation of copra from A&N Islands to mainland in a specialized bag which will be designed by the Indian Institute of Packaging. Once approved, this will reduce the moisture level of Copra (below 6 percent), the Chief Secretary said adding that it will help us minimize the rejection of copra and thus fetching the farmers better price. The Chief Secretary also advised the tribal population in Nicobar to start cultivation of different types of spices. He especially mentioned about cinnamon which is of great demand among tourists visiting the Isles, due to its good quality here. Cultivating spices will double the income of the farmers and will improve their economic status.
The Chairman, Tribal Council of Car Nicobar, Shri Lionel Nicomede, who spoke in Nicobari language, expressed his happiness on the inauguration of this campaign and expressed gratitude to the Administration for the efforts made by it, towards restarting the copra procurement under Price Support Scheme.
Earlier welcoming the gathering, the Secretary, Agriculture, Dr. Satyendra Singh Dursawat, IAS said, in A&N Islands, copra is procured under Price Support Scheme. NAFED is the Central Nodal Agency for copra procurement and Tribal Development Cooperative Society (TDCS), Ellon Hinengo Limited (EHL) and Andaman & Nicobar Cooperative Supply & Marketing Federation Ltd. (ANCOFED) are its three State Level Supporters (SLS). During the current 2023 marketing season, 3000 MT of Milling Copra will be procured at the announced MSP of Rs. 108.60 per kg from the farmers all over the Islands, he said.
The function concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by the Deputy Commissioner, Nicobar District, Shri Hari Kallikkat, IAS.