Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 4: Farmers from North and Middle Andaman were introduced to improved coconut varieties, crop diversification and farm mechanisation during an exposure programme organised on World Coconut Day at the Horticulture Research Farm, Sippighat.
The All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Plantation Crops, along with ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CIARI), organised the programme on September 2 under the theme, “Coconut in times of uncertainty: Securing Food, Energy and Livelihoods.” The initiative brought 48 farmers, farmwomen and Krishi Sakhis from North and Middle Andaman to the research farm, along with representatives from ATMA and KVK, South Andaman.
The exposure focused on ways to improve the economic potential of coconut plantations through better varieties, intercropping and mechanised farm operations. Dr Ajit Arun Waman, Senior Scientist and Principal Investigator, AICRP on Plantation Crops, took the participants through the World Coconut Germplasm Centre and explained the diversity of coconut conserved there.
He also introduced the participants to improved coconut varieties developed by ICAR-CIARI for commercial-scale cultivation and outlined options for integrating other crops into coconut plantations. The demonstrations covered spices including cinnamon, clove, black pepper, nutmeg, ginger, turmeric and mango ginger, along with banana, pineapple and local fruits.
The programme highlighted intercropping as a means of diversifying coconut plantations. Dr Waman urged the participants to consider cash crops demonstrated at the farm to improve the profitability of coconut-based cultivation.
Mechanisation formed another part of the field sessions, with particular emphasis on coconut harvesting and post-harvest handling amid limited agricultural manpower in the islands. Participants received practical demonstrations on coconut climbing devices and a coconut dehusking machine.
The team also demonstrated cinnamon harvesting using Dweep CinnRub. Some participants personally used the climbing device and took part in cinnamon harvesting, gaining practical exposure to equipment and practices they had not previously used.
During the interactions, participants raised questions on different aspects of horticulture and received clarifications from the organisers. They also agreed to consider some of the activities demonstrated during the visit for adoption at their farms.
World Coconut Day is observed annually on September 2. The Asian and Pacific Coconut Community, an intergovernmental organisation of coconut-producing countries based in Jakarta, Indonesia, established the observance in 2009, and member countries have marked the day since then.
The programme was organised under the guidance of Dr Jai Sunder, Director (A), ICAR-CIARI, who considered the exposure visit relevant for farmers from North and Middle Andaman, described as a major production belt for horticultural crops.
