Island farmers came together at multiple venues across the Andaman & Nicobar Islands on August 2 to participate in the live telecast of the 20th instalment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. In conjunction with the national event broadcast from Varanasi, ICAR-CIARI (Central Island Agricultural Research Institute) and KVK (Krishi Vigyan Kendra) North & Middle Andaman hosted programmes that also featured interactive sessions, technology demonstrations, and awareness-building activities aimed at strengthening the island’s agricultural resilience.
The primary gathering at the T.R. Dutta Conference Hall, ICAR-CIARI campus in Sri Vijaya Puram, brought together 130 farmers from various villages in the Sri Vijaya Puram and Ferrargunj taluks. The event was spearheaded by Dr. Eaknath B Chakurkar, Director of CIARI, along with his team of scientists representing agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries disciplines. Participants were introduced to several innovations developed by CIARI to suit the island’s unique agricultural landscape.
In addition to viewing the Prime Minister’s address and the crediting of ₹2,000 to the Aadhaar-linked accounts of over 9.7 crore eligible farmers across the country, the farmers in attendance engaged in meaningful dialogues with the scientists. They raised questions, shared on-ground challenges, and discussed how the latest technological interventions could be adopted in their respective local conditions. The discussions ranged from organic farming and livestock management to integrated aquaculture techniques, all aimed at promoting self-reliant and sustainable farming systems across the islands.
The CIARI session also served as a hands-on learning opportunity for many participants, who later reported feeling more confident not only in understanding the scheme’s benefits but also in explaining the process to others in their community. Organisers noted a visible sense of empowerment among the farmers, with many expressing interest in piloting some of the demonstrated technologies on their own fields.
Simultaneously, a parallel event was organised at KVK Nimbudera in North & Middle Andaman, where 79 farmers and farmwomen from villages such as Basantipur, Hari Nagar, Swadesh Nagar, and Amkunj gathered for the PM-KISAN live telecast. The programme was held in the presence of R. Madhavan, Upadhyaksha of the North & Middle Andaman Zilla Parishad, and was guided by Dr. V. Damodaran, Senior Scientist and Head of KVK. Other subject matter specialists, government officials, and agriculture extension workers were also present to facilitate the interactions.
The KVK session focused on the role of both farmers and farmwomen in strengthening agriculture and allied sectors in the islands. Following the live telecast, the KVK experts engaged participants in technical briefings and showcased model practices for improving productivity and income. Women farmers in particular responded enthusiastically, participating in the discussion and seeking specific advice on poultry, mushroom cultivation, and homestead gardening.
Both CIARI and KVK events were organised under the overall guidance of Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, reinforcing the institution’s efforts to maintain a bridge between scientific research and practical farm-level application. The twin events not only amplified the message of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme but also reaffirmed the growing relevance of farmer-scientist dialogues in the unique context of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, where farming faces climatic, logistical, and infrastructural challenges.
By creating platforms for direct communication and real-time awareness, the ICAR institutions are playing a critical role in aligning national schemes with regional needs. As the government continues to push for digital and scientific integration into agriculture, such community-level outreach initiatives are expected to shape the future of farming in the islands, making it more adaptive, inclusive, and informed.
