The Department of Agriculture, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, in association with the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, organized a Union Territory-level orientation programme on the PM-Kisan Samridhi Kendra (PM-KSK) in Sri Vijaya Puram on October 7. The programme, held in hybrid mode at the Office of the Assistant Director (Agriculture), Goalghar, focused on equipping Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and agricultural dealers with knowledge of regulatory frameworks and operational roles under the initiative.
A total of 101 participants attended, including pesticide and seed dealers, PACS members, departmental officials, and other stakeholders, both online and offline.
In her opening remarks, Secretary (Agriculture) Pallavi Sarkar underlined the importance of PM-KSK as a transformative initiative that aims to convert retail fertilizer shops into one-stop service centres for farmers. She highlighted that the scheme integrates fertilizer sales with soil testing, advisory services, and dissemination of government scheme information. She called upon cooperative institutions and private input dealers to collaborate effectively with the Agriculture Department to make PACS function as frontline PM-KSK units delivering quality services to farmers.
Director (Agriculture) Priyanka Kumari emphasized the necessity of organizing orientation sessions to ensure consistent understanding of regulations and effective execution of government policies. She noted that strengthening the capacity of officials and stakeholders is critical to empowering farmers with better services.
The technical sessions that followed provided detailed insights into licensing procedures and regulatory compliance. Dr. S.C. Rekha, Joint Director of Agriculture, presented on fertilizer licensing requirements, including documentation, inspection, and renewal processes, stressing adherence to the Fertilizer (Control) Order. Assistant Director (Extension) Navasakthi explained the step-by-step process for pesticide licensing, while Assistant Director (Seeds) Ms. Jacinta Bage discussed procedures for seed licensing, certification, and dealer responsibilities in maintaining seed quality.
Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies Abdul Rasheed addressed the participants on the functional role of PACS under PM-KSK. He pointed out that PACS can serve as integrated service hubs by providing farmers access to fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, soil testing, and scheme-related information, thereby strengthening the cooperative system.
The orientation concluded with an interactive feedback session during which participants clarified queries about licensing procedures, online application processing, and the integration of PACS with the PM-KSK platform. Officials reassured attendees that continuous guidance and training will be offered to support PACS and dealers in performing their roles effectively.
By clarifying statutory procedures and reinforcing the role of PACS, the orientation is expected to enhance service delivery to farmers in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The initiative underscores the government’s intent to not only regulate input distribution but to create integrated service centres that improve agricultural productivity and farmer welfare.
The PM-KSK programme is seen as a significant step toward empowering farmers by ensuring easy access to quality agricultural inputs, soil health services, and awareness of government schemes, thereby contributing to long-term agricultural development in the Islands.
