Sri Vijaya Puram, June 12: A strong push for sustainable agriculture, collective farming and agri-entrepreneurship emerged from a farmers’ conclave organised by ICAR–Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CIARI) under the nationwide “Khet Bachao Abhiyan”, where experts urged Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to take the lead in transforming agriculture and allied sectors across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The FPOs, SHGs and Progressive Farmers’ Sammelan on Balanced Use of Fertilizers was held at ICAR-CIARI, Sri Vijaya Puram, bringing together farmers, scientists, extension workers and financial institutions to discuss sustainable farming practices, soil health management and income-generation opportunities. Around 85 participants, including farmers from South Andaman, representatives of SHGs and FPOs, scientists from ICAR-CIARI and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), and officials from NABARD, attended the programme.
The event focused on promoting the balanced and judicious use of fertilizers, improving soil fertility and encouraging environmentally sustainable farming systems. Participants were also briefed on various government schemes and opportunities related to value addition, branding, packaging and marketing of agricultural produce aimed at increasing farm profitability and strengthening rural livelihoods.
Addressing the gathering, Alok Nath Puspak, Assistant General Manager, NABARD, highlighted the growing importance of financial inclusion and entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector. He said collective institutions such as SHGs and FPOs are better equipped to access institutional credit, government assistance and financial support programmes.
Puspak encouraged farmers to establish stronger producer organizations with larger membership bases, stating that collective action could improve bargaining power and create better market opportunities. He also expressed NABARD’s willingness to support projects related to shrimp farming and other income-generating activities and invited stakeholders to submit proposals focused on climate-resilient agriculture, climate adaptation and sustainable livelihood development.
ICAR-CIARI Director Dr. Jai Sunder emphasized that collective production, processing and marketing can generate significantly greater returns than individual efforts. He encouraged farmers to form producer groups focused on spice cultivation and value-added enterprises to improve productivity and profitability.
Highlighting the unique agricultural resources of the islands, Dr. Sunder pointed to products such as virgin coconut oil, cinnamon, banana, jackfruit and tuna-based products as having strong commercial potential beyond local markets. He stressed that effective branding, packaging and marketing would be essential to unlock higher value for these products.
He also advocated greater use of digital platforms, including e-commerce portals, social media and messaging applications, to expand market outreach and connect producers with consumers. According to him, bulk production and collective marketing through organized groups would help farmers access larger markets and secure better prices.
Dr. Raj Narayan, Head of the Division of Horticulture and Crop Improvement, highlighted the objectives of the Khet Bachao Abhiyan and stressed the need to safeguard soil health through sustainable agricultural practices. He encouraged the adoption of organic and natural farming methods, mulching techniques and the use of organic manures to conserve soil moisture, reduce nutrient loss and improve long-term productivity.
The programme also highlighted the growing role of fisheries and aquaculture in diversifying rural incomes. Dr. M. Muruganandam, Head of the Division of Fisheries Science, outlined opportunities in fish seed production, biofloc farming, fish feed manufacturing, processing and value addition. He noted that fish-based fertilizers, fish pickles and tuna-based products offer considerable commercial potential when supported by proper branding and marketing.
Dr. Muruganandam also informed participants about financial assistance and entrepreneurship opportunities available under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and other government initiatives aimed at promoting fisheries and aquaculture enterprises.
Earlier, Dr. Y. Ramakrishna, Principal Scientist and Head of KVK South Andaman, welcomed the participants and underscored the importance of collaboration between farmers, scientists and extension agencies in promoting balanced nutrient management and sustainable farming systems. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Subject Matter Specialist Mohit, reaffirming the commitment of stakeholders towards building resilient and profitable farming enterprises in the islands.
