Sri Vijaya Puram, June 29: In a bid to promote sustainable livelihoods through integrated agricultural models, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS) has initiated a live demonstration programme in Lal Pahad, Chouldari, focusing on duck farming, Azolla cultivation, and improved fodder management. The demonstration was carried out at the farm of an educated unemployed youth, marking a push toward hands-on, field-based capacity building for rural farmers.
As part of this initiative, the department distributed 45 day-old ducklings, protein-rich Azolla, and cuttings of high-yielding Napier grass to the beneficiary. Officers from AH&VS, including Senior Veterinary Officers (Animal Husbandry and Animal Health Training Institute), conducted field training sessions on duckling management techniques, covering brooding, feeding schedules, housing, and healthcare practices, to improve duck survival rates and productivity.
Live demonstrations were held on cultivating Azolla, a fast-growing aquatic fern often referred to as “green gold” due to its nutritional value and use as a low-cost livestock feed. Farmers were also introduced to Super Napier grass, known for its capacity to produce year-round green fodder even in low-resource conditions, helping reduce dependency on external feed supplies.
The intervention is part of the department’s larger strategy to familiarise local farmers with integrated farming systems, where livestock and crop components work in synergy. Officials noted that by adopting such models, farmers can optimise limited resources, diversify income streams, and enhance resilience against market and climate-related shocks.
Such integrated approaches are particularly relevant to the unique ecological and geographical context of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, where agricultural land is fragmented, and logistical costs are high. Traditional mono-cropping systems have proven insufficient in meeting the nutritional and economic needs of smallholder families. Integrated farming models not only reduce waste and improve soil health, but also generate multiple outputs, such as meat, eggs, fodder, and compost, from the same unit of land.
Azolla, for instance, can be cultivated in shallow pits using minimal water and labour and serves as an affordable feed option for ducks, poultry, and cattle. Napier grass helps in addressing the chronic shortage of green fodder, a common challenge among livestock farmers in the islands. Duck farming, on the other hand, offers a promising income opportunity due to rising local demand for meat and eggs and the species’ low feed conversion ratio.
The department aims to replicate this pilot in other villages across South Andaman and extend support in the form of training, input kits, and veterinary guidance. By adopting farmer-led demonstration models, officials hope to encourage peer learning, increase technology adoption, and build confidence among first-generation farmers, especially unemployed youth.
This field demonstration is expected to serve as a learning centre for neighbouring farmers, showcasing how scientific livestock management can be integrated with existing agricultural systems to improve both productivity and profitability. The department has also indicated its intention to work closely with panchayats and self-help groups to scale up such initiatives in a decentralised manner.
As rural Andaman looks for practical, low-investment agricultural models that offer high returns and food security, the success of such integrated farming pilots may well define the next phase of sustainable agriculture in the islands.
